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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Connolly Demands Virginia Stop Voter Roll Purges Ahead of 2024 Election

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gerry Connolly (D-Va)

    Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, wrote to Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares to demand that the Commonwealth of Virginia cease its ongoing purges of voter rolls happening within 90 days of an election, as required by federal law. Connolly is also notifying US Attorney General Merick Garland and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice of the ongoing voter purges in Virginia.

    “I write to express my urgent concerns regarding implementation of Executive Order 35 and the Commonwealth’s potential violation of federal law,” wrote Connolly. “Specifically, I am alarmed by the ongoing purges of Virginia’s voter rolls within 90 days of an upcoming election, a practice that would violate the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, which restricts states from conducting systematic voter roll purges within this timeframe.”

    “The NVRA restricts states from systematically removing voters from voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election to prevent widespread disenfranchisement and ensure the integrity of the voting process,” Connolly continued. “This restriction is designed to protect voters from being wrongly purged close to an election, which could disrupt their ability to cast ballots.”

    “Given the potential for errors in systematic voter purges, the rapid pace of the ongoing purges required by Executive Order 35, and the proximity to Election Day, the Commonwealth must cease any voter purging activities that violate federal law,” Connolly concluded. “I look forward to your immediate and personal attention to this matter to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure the Commonwealth is complying with federal law.”

    Full text of the letter is available here and below. 

    Dear Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares,

    I write to express my urgent concerns regarding implementation of Executive Order 35 and the Commonwealth’s potential violation of federal law. Specifically, I am alarmed by the ongoing purges of Virginia’s voter rolls within 90 days of an upcoming election, a practice that would violate the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, which restricts states from conducting systematic voter roll purges within this timeframe.

    The NVRA restricts states from systematically removing voters from voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election to prevent widespread disenfranchisement and ensure the integrity of the voting process. This restriction is designed to protect voters from being wrongly purged close to an election, which could disrupt their ability to cast ballots. 

    This 90-day restriction helps minimize errors in purges. Voter roll purges can sometimes be based on inaccurate data, leading to the wrongful removal of eligible voters. The 90-day restriction provides a buffer to prevent last-minute mistakes that could deny people their right to vote, especially when the time to correct errors is limited. 

    The 90-day restriction also prevents disenfranchisement. If voters are removed from rolls too close to an election, they may not have enough time to correct the situation (such as re-registering or proving their eligibility). This buffer ensures eligible voters are not disenfranchised due to administrative errors or insufficient time to respond. 

    The 90-day restriction ensures election integrity. The law seeks to maintain stability and confidence in the voter registration system during a critical period leading up to elections. By limiting voter roll changes within this time frame, it prevents politically motivated purges that could unfairly target certain groups of voters or influence the outcome of an election.

    The 90-day restriction also protects voters. The NVRA includes provisions to make voter registration easier, especially for groups that are often underrepresented, such as minorities and low-income voters. The 90-day rule helps prevent sudden, large-scale removals that might disproportionately affect these communities.

    Given the potential for errors in systematic voter purges, the rapid pace of the ongoing purges required by Executive Order 35, and the proximity to Election Day, the Commonwealth must cease any voter purging activities that violate federal law.

    I look forward to your immediate and personal attention to this matter to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure the Commonwealth is complying with federal law.

    Best Regards,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Hank Johnson Announces Energy Efficiency Grant Funding for Covington, Other Georgia Communities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    COVINGTON, GA – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced today that Covington, located in Georgia’s 4th Congressional District, has been awarded $150,000 in grant funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. Covington is one of 17 Georgia communities to benefit from this $2.6 million investment aimed at reducing energy consumption, lowering emissions, and improving energy efficiency.

    “Covington is leading the way in transitioning to clean energy with the addition of eight new electric vehicle charging stations,” said Congressman Johnson. “This funding will help make clean transportation more accessible and support our community’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint while creating more economic opportunities in Georgia’s Fourth District.”

    The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), which administers the program, selected Covington’s project as part of a broader initiative to enhance energy efficiency across the state. Covington will use the funds to install charging stations in high-traffic areas is designed to support the growth of electric vehicles and make clean transportation more accessible to residents and visitors alike.

    “This is just the beginning,” Congressman Johnson continued. “Investments like these are crucial for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, improving air quality, and positioning our district and the state of Georgia as leaders in clean energy.”

    Other projects across the state receiving funding include energy audits, building upgrades, and workforce development initiatives, with approximately 60% of the funding directed toward disadvantaged communities.

    For more information about the EECBG Program and the energy efficiency projects being implemented, visit gefa.georgia.gov/EECBG.

    About the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA):
    GEFA provides financing for energy, land, and water projects across Georgia. Since its establishment in 1986, GEFA has committed nearly $6 billion to local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to improve environmental infrastructure throughout the state.

    About Congressman Hank Johnson:
    Hank Johnson represents Georgia’s 4th Congressional District, where he is a staunch advocate for civil rights, public safety, and economic justice. Learn more at https://hankjohnson.house.gov/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Protestor Federally Charged with Damaging U.S. Government Property at Union Station

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

                WASHINGTON – Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, Virginia, was arrested this morning in connection with a federal criminal complaint charging him with destruction of federal property. The complaint alleges that Mahdawi spray-painted the monument at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024.

                The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division, and Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor of the U.S. Park Police (USPP).

                Mahdawi will make his initial appearance this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He is charged with destruction of government property.

                “Politically motivated destruction or defacing of federal property is not protected speech, it is a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Anyone engaged in such conduct in the District of Columbia should expect to get federally prosecuted. Our community has zero tolerance for those who want to destroy or deface our monuments and other federal property.”  

                “The FBI does not conduct investigations based solely on First Amendment activities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division. “The FBI investigates people only when we receive information or allegations that they are, or may be, violating federal law or posing a risk to national security. We are committed to working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to bring to justice any individuals who commit federal crimes, including destruction of federal property.”

                According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate in the area of Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Ave. NE, and E St. NE, directly in front of Union Station. From about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., demonstrators who had gathered in Columbus Circle pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles; burned flags and objects; sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures; and interfered with law enforcement’s ability to place individuals under arrest.

                Between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., an individual later identified as Mahdawi climbed the monument located in the center of Columbus Circle, which was captured on video footage filmed by USPP from an observation post looking down at Columbus Circle. The same event was captured in open-source video and photos later posted to various internet platforms. After climbing to a ledge, Mahdawi began to spray paint the monument.

                Footage obtained from a review of open-source videos posted to X (formerly Twitter) showed Mahdawi using red spray paint to write “HAMAS IS COMIN” on the Columbus statue. After completing the phrase, Mahdawi spray-painted an inverted red triangle above the slogan.

                On July 30, 2024, the U.S. Park Police issued a bulletin seeking information on five individuals who engaged in criminal activity on July 24, 2024. The same day the bulletin was posted, the U.S. Park Police received a tip that they forwarded to the FBI. Through that tip and other leads, FBI was able to identify Mahdawi. Additionally, law enforcement databases revealed that Mahdawi had previously been arrested in Richmond, Virginia, on two occasions (December 2023 and April 2024).

                The flags that were pulled down from the flag poles, and the statues and structures in Columbus Circle, are all property of the federal government. The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23.

                This case is being investigated by the USPP’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office, with assistance from the FBI Richmond Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin.

                A criminal indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Virginia Man Found Guilty of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

                WASHINGTON – A Virginia man was found guilty today of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Robert William DeGregoris, 33, of Aldie, Virginia, was found guilty of civil disorder, a felony, and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or building.

                DeGregoris was convicted following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Judge Contreras will sentence DeGregoris on Feb. 7, 2025.

                According to evidence presented during the trial, DeGregoris was identified in publicly available images and open-source video on the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol building near an area known as the “Tunnel.” The Tunnel was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th. There, DeGregoris can be seen in video footage climbing on the side of the entrance to the Tunnel and later near a line of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers at about 4:01 p.m.

                DeGregoris then attempted to forcibly enter the Tunnel and can be seen on Capitol building closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage reaching toward the nearest MPD officer. At approximately 4:01 p.m., CCTV footage depicts DeGregoris possibly striking the helmet of the nearby officer.  A few seconds later, DeGregoris was sprayed with Oleoresin Capsicum spray by a nearby officer. However, despite being sprayed, DeGregoris continued to push with other rioters against the MPD front line for several more minutes.

                Evidence showed that at approximately 4:07 p.m., DeGregoris was turned with his back toward the front line of MPD officers as he pushed against the MPD line and a rioter next to him sprayed officers with pepper spray. Approximately 20 seconds later, DeGregoris can be seen assisting other rioters by helping to push a ladder toward the MPD officers.

                After being sprayed with Oleoresin Capsicum and prior to departing the restricted area of the Capitol building grounds, DeGregoris posted a photograph of himself on social media accounts with the captioned statement “Took some pepper spray & tear gas breaching the front doors….Worth it.”

                The FBI arrested DeGregoris on Jan. 25, 2023, in Virginia.

                This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

                The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Child Sexual Abuser Sentenced to 52 and One Half Years in Prison

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

                WASHINGTON – Matthew Stitt Johnson, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 52.5 years in prison for two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances for abusing three minor children.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Johnson pleaded guilty on August 29, 2022, before U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb. In addition to the 52.5-year prison term, Judge Cobb ordered Johnson to register as a sex offender.

                According to the government’s evidence, Johnson sexually abused three children, an eight-year-old, a five-year-old, and an eight-month-old infant, between 2015 and 2020. Johnson took videos of his sexual abuse of the five-year-old child and the eight-month-old infant. While the five-year-old and her sister reported the abuse to their mother, the abuse was not reported to law enforcement.

                In May 2021, law enforcement received a tip that Johnson downloaded child pornography from a cloud-based service and subsequently executed a search warrant on his home. Videos depicting the sexual abuse of the five-year-old and eight-month-old victims were discovered in Johnson’s cell phones along with 13,000 images of child pornography. Johnson distributed the images of his sexual abuse of children in internet forums dedicated to trading child pornography, particularly trading images of the rape and torture of infants and toddlers, and actively sought out and distributed other child pornography images over a two-year period.

                This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. The investigation received valuable assistance from the MPD’s Narcotics and Special Investigation Division, Human Trafficking Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Platt and Janani Iyengar with the valuable assistance of Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant.

                This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 253 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed both by the Russian Federation and Ukraine about the assassination last week of an individual in the city where most staff of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

    The person, identified as Mr Korotkyi, reportedly died in a car bomb explosion on Friday morning in Enerhodar, which is located a few kilometres from the ZNPP. In a letter to the IAEA, Russia affirmed he was “one of the key staff members responsible for ensuring nuclear security” at the plant. Ukraine told the IAEA he was not a ZNPP staff member anymore.

    The IAEA is also aware of a public statement issued the same day by Ukraine’s military intelligence indicating that this person’s alleged actions after Russia took control of the ZNPP in March 2022 were the reason he was targeted. In addition, the country’s military intelligence posted an image of a destroyed car, and suggested others may also face “retribution”.

    In follow-up communication with the IAEA, Ukraine said it “does not attack civilians”. Ukraine did not confirm or deny any responsibility for the attack.

    In a letter to the IAEA, the Russian Federation said Mr Korotkyi was “head of the permits bureau” at the ZNPP and called the attack a “horrific crime” committed by Ukraine.

    Director General Grossi reiterated that while the IAEA does not have forensic capabilities or authorities to investigate the incident, maintaining nuclear safety and security remains of paramount importance to prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict. With this vital objective, the IAEA in March 2022 established seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security that have been supported by all IAEA Member States.

    Pillar 3 states that “the operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure”.

    “Any targeting of employees of nuclear power plants would constitute a blatant violation of this pillar fundamental for overall nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.

    “In addition, any statements indicating further retaliatory measures – potentially affecting staff of the Zaporizhzhya NPP – would be unacceptable and contrary to the safety pillars established by the IAEA,” he said. “Any such threats deny staff who are not responsible for the overarching political and military situation the minimum standards of working conditions to do their jobs properly.”

    Director General Grossi once again called for maximum restraint during the conflict and said any action targeting staff at the ZNPP – in order to address issues related to its status – has a direct impact on nuclear safety and security and must cease.

    “The only way to avert the threat of a nuclear accident with transboundary radiological consequences during this war is to fully respect and adhere to the seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security as well as the five concrete principles for the protection of the Zaporizhzhya NPP,” he said.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Matt Gaetz Spotlights Partisan Smear Against DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari Following Swamp Screed Report Recommending His Firing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Matt Gaetz (1st District of Florida)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, in the wake of last week’s swamp screed report recommending President Joe Biden fire the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) Joseph Cuffari, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) sent a letter to IG Cuffari highlighting the partisan campaign against him.

    Rep. Gaetz’s letter comes after a panel of Biden-Harris appointees on the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity (CIGIE) released a 1,000-page report accusing IG Cuffari of misconduct in what appears to be partisan retaliation to his diligent oversight of DHS. IG Cuffari investigated and exposed multiple Biden-Harris DHS failures, including the crisis at the southern border, the attempted assassinations of President Trump, and the mishandling of funds by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). During a Judiciary Committee hearing in July, FBI Director Christopher Wray was in agreement with Rep. Gaetz that it would not be a “good idea” to fire IG Cuffari.

    Full text of Congressman Gaetz’s letter to Inspector General Cuffari can be found HERE. Additionally, exclusive coverage of the letter by Daily Caller can be found HERE.

    LETTER TEXT

    Dear Inspector General Cuffari:

    Testifying before Congress shortly after the first assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, FBI Director Christopher Wray expressly noted that “I don’t think [it] would be a good idea” to remove you from your duties during the pendency of your investigation into that incident. I agree with Director Wray: It would look like a cover-up on the part of President Biden and Vice President Harris. Given two assassination attempts on former President Trump, your continued oversight responsibilities related to the Southern border crisis, and now the numerous whistleblowers coming forward about FEMA mismanagement of the Hurricane Helene response, removing you might be politically convenient for those in power, but Americans would see it as a dirty trick.

    You have independent oversight over the nerve center of the D.C. swamp, and the knives are out for you. I am very concerned that Vice President Harris and others who want to cover up the open border and the assassination attempts on former President Trump will be calling for your firing and privately leaning on President Biden to remove you. I am confident the Vice President would love to have the President remove you before the election, or in the lame duck period, politically the best time to effectuate such a coup. The bureaucracy is trying to give them a fig leaf to get away with it and to pretend it is anything other than a cover- up: last week’s long-awaited 1000-page screed attacking you.

    It is telling, and rather gross, that this report comes out right before the November election. After all, your office has oversight over parts of the Department of Homeland Security that might be asleep at the wheel as our election technology is penetrated by foreign adversaries.

    I, much of Congress, and the American people stand with you. Keep uncovering the truth and performing your constitutional duties faithfully.

    Sincerely, 

    Matt Gaetz​​​​​
    Member of Congress

    ###

    For updates, subscribe to Congressman Gaetz’s newsletter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How CBO Uses Discount Rates to Estimate the Present Value of Future Costs or Savings

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Many activities of the federal government have budgetary and other effects that can last far into the future. To produce estimates of those budgetary effects—and to help lawmakers compare different policies—the Congressional Budget Office often has to translate a flow of future income or payments into an equivalent lump-sum value today. This report describes such present-value estimates, particularly how CBO selects and uses discount rates to calculate the value of future cash flows in its analyses.

    • Discount Rates and Present Values. The present value of future cash flows depends on the rate used to convert those flows into a single equivalent value at a specific time, generally the present. Discount rates account for the time value of money: the fact that an amount received or paid today is more valuable than the same amount received or paid in the future. Discount rates can also incorporate factors such as risk, inflation, and other considerations that can affect the value of an asset to a person or business.
    • Types of Estimates That Use Present Values. CBO uses discount rates for a wide variety of estimates. They include estimates of the budgetary cost of federal programs that make or guarantee loans, the financial position of the Social Security trust funds, and the long-term effects of spending for infrastructure or children’s health on federal spending and revenues. CBO also uses discount rates to estimate household wealth, the value of future retirement benefits, the lifetime costs of weapon systems, the likelihood that people will invest in energy-saving technologies, and the cost of future damage from flooding, among other topics.
    • CBO’s Methods and Data for Choosing Discount Rates. The choice of discount rates can have large effects on estimates, especially for cash flows far in the future. To estimate discount rates that are consistent with market prices and rates of return, CBO uses data from an array of sources, including financial markets, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Federal Reserve, and academic studies. CBO’s discount rates may differ from those used by the Administration for various reasons, such as differences in economic assumptions, assessments of risk, and decisions about what factors discount rates should reflect.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Republicans Will Always Stand With Our Ally Israel In Their Fight For Survival

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    Categories24/7 OSI, MIL-OSI, US House of Representatives Republicans, US Politics, US Republicans

    House Republicans Will Always Stand With Our Ally Israel In Their Fight For Survival

    Washington, October 7, 2024

    Today marks the one-year anniversary of the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel, the bloodiest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, when barbaric terrorists brutally kidnapped, raped, and murdered innocent civilians. As we mourn the lives lost and pray for the safe return of the 97 hostages still being held, including 4 Americans, the United States must show its unwavering support and unequivocally stand with our most precious ally, as they fight for their very existence. 
     
    As Iran and its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq surround Israel, hellbent on its extermination, the Biden-Harris Administration’s failed foreign policy of appeasement has abandoned Israel and emboldened Iran by softening sanctions and slow-walking critical military aid passed by House Republicans. House Republicans know the only way to restore order in the world is by reimplementing a successful peace through strength foreign policy agenda. 
     
    MAKE NO MISTAKE: House Republicans will always stand with our most precious ally Israel and remain committed to ensuring it has the resources necessary to defend itself and bring the hostages home. 
     
    HOUSE REPUBLICANS’ SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL:

    • House Republicans passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023, which codifies President Trump’s Executive Order that discrimination against Jewish students may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and requires the Department of Education to take into account the 2016 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism and its contemporary examples as part of its assessment of whether antisemitic discrimination transpired.
    • House Republicans passed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, which fully funds the U.S.-Israeli cooperative missile defense programs and holds the United Nations (U.N.) accountable for its blatant bias against our most precious ally Israel by prohibiting any taxpayer dollars from going to the United Nations Commission of Inquiry against Israel and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
    • House Republicans passed H.R. 6126, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, with overwhelming support.
    • House Republicans passed H.Res. 771, Standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists. 
    • House Republicans passed H. Res. 798, Condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
    • In February 2023, in a strong show of support for our ally, House Republican leadership sent a letter to President Biden encouraging the Administration to oppose and veto any anti-Israel resolution put before the U.N. Security Council.
    • In April 2023, House Republicans voted to support the expansion of the Abraham Accords to encourage nations to normalize relations with Israel and express continued support for bilateral cooperation across economic, security, and civilian issues.
    • In May 2023, House Republicans voted to condemn the rise of antisemitism and call on elected officials to identify and educate others on the contributions of the Jewish American community.
    • In June 2023, House Republicans voted to establish a Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords at the Department of State to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords.
    • In July 2023, House Republicans passed the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act with key priorities to support the U.S./Israeli partnership and enhance Israel’s security.   

    THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION’S HISTORY OF TURNING THEIR BACK ON ISRAEL:

    • In February 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration reversed President Trump’s move, ensuring that sanctions on Iran’s drones and missiles will expire in October 2023.
    • In September 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration waived sanctions to allow $6 billion in Iranian funds in South Korean banks to be transferred to banks in Qatar in exchange for the release of five American hostages.
    • Authorizing the transfer of $6 billion for Iran sets a dangerous precedent that will incentivize more hostage-taking by the number one state sponsor of terror and other bad actors.
    • In November 2023, House Republicans passed the No Funds For Iranian Terrorism Act, which would effectively prevent Iran from accessing these funds. 
    • In November 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration reissued a sanctions waiver that gave Iran access to more than $10 billion.
    • In March 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration supported Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s unprecedented calls for new elections in Israel. 
    • In April 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration demanded that our most precious ally Israel surrender to the Iranian backed terrorist organization Hamas.   

    FAR LEFT HOUSE DEMOCRATS’ OPPOSITION TO ISRAEL IN THE 118TH CONGRESS:

    KAMALA HARRIS’ FAILED FOREIGN POLICY OF APPEASEMENT HAS TURNED THE WORLD TO CHAOS:

    • The Biden-Harris Administration has failed to stand up to our adversaries in Beijing, Tehran, and Moscow. 
    • The Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy of appeasement toward Iran has resulted in the deadliest attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, hundreds of Iranian-backed terrorist attacks on American service members, and plunged the Middle East into chaos. 
    • On October 7, 2023, the world witnessed Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists perpetrate the deadliest attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. 
    • To appease his pro-Hamas base, the Biden-Harris Administration withheld aid from Israel. 
    • In May, Biden told CNN that he would withhold military aid to Israel if Israel continues their campaign against Hamas terrorists.
      • Biden-Harris’ decision greenlights Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran to escalate attacks following his failed foreign policy of appeasement. 
    • Biden-Harris went into hiding for nine days as antisemitic, pro-terrorist mobs overran colleges and universities, endangering Jewish students.
      • When Biden finally addressed the country for the first time in days, he did NOT condemn the antisemitic, pro-terrorist, mobs that have overrun colleges and universities, and he did NOT say how he would protect Jewish students.
    • In April, Biden was blasted for equivocating on antisemitic protests happening across the country.
    • To appease Iran, the Biden-Harris Administration removed the Houthis from the U.S. list of foreign terror organizations. 
    • In 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration gave Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, $6 billion as a ransom payment for five American prisoners, jeopardizing Americans’ safety around the world. 
    • While American service members were under attack by Iranian-backed terrorists, the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was MIA, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico.
    • The Biden-Harris Administration allowed a Communist Chinese surveillance balloon to traverse the entire continental U.S. over the course of 7 days, gathering intelligence and flying over sensitive military sites, before taking action. 
    • Biden and Harris’ disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan resulted in:
      • The deadliest attack on Americans in Afghanistan since 2011, killing 13 of our brave service members and wounding many others. 
      • OVER 1,000 Americans were abandoned behind enemy lines for months at the mercy of the Taliban, and $7 billion in U.S. military equipment was left behind. 
      • Biden has been “privately defiant” that he made the right calls during his Administration’s catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. 
      • In June, Biden FALSELY claimed no U.S. service members have died during his Administration. 
    • Under Biden and Harris, the U.S. Army fell 15,000 soldiers short of their recruitment goal for FY22, missing by 25%.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Abraxas Power Announces the Submission of the Environmental Assessment Registration for its Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation Green Hydrogen Project in Central Newfoundland

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Abraxas Power Corp. (“Abraxas”), a leading energy transition developer, and its subsidiary Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (“EVREC”), are pleased to announce that EVREC has submitted the Environmental Assessment Registration (“EAR”) with the Department of Environment and Climate Change of the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador for its Green Energy Hub project in the Botwood area.

    EVREC is a P2X project that was awarded access to over 300 square kilometres of crown lands by the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2023 for EVREC’s use in the development of its project in Central Newfoundland. EVREC will include a 3.5 GW onshore wind project with its associated energy and molecular storage powering behind-the-meter hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3) production. The project expects to generate up to 200,000 tons of green H2 and up to 1,000,000 tons of green NH3 annually that will be exported to global markets.

    Since the above-mentioned land access award, EVREC has significantly advanced the project through pre-construction activities which include environmental data collection, resource measurement, and public consultations. The final project design is subject to these ongoing assessments and activities.

    “Today marks a pivotal milestone for EVREC as we register the Project with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Colter Eadie, CEO of Abraxas Power. “This project is not just about harnessing the power of natural resources; it’s about developing a strong partnership with our local communities as we transform the future of energy. This initiative will boost Newfoundland’s economy by creating substantial high-skilled job opportunities and fostering economic stability and vibrant, thriving communities.”

    EVREC’s total capital investment is expected to be CAD$12 billion. According to an Economic Impact Assessment published by Jupia Consulting, when combining both CAPEX and OPEX economic activity, the project is expected to:

    • Boost provincial GDP by $7.8 billion over the 34-year life of the project (in $2024), excluding the GDP impacts arising from spending the tax/royalty revenue
    • Contribute $3.1 billion employment income in Newfoundland and Labrador
    • Support 10,900 person years of employment during the four years of construction and over 21,600 over the 34-year operating period
    • Boost annual household spending in NL by over $2.2 billion
    • Contribute $220 million in tax revenue to municipal governments over the 38-year period (CAPEX and OPEX phases). The provincial government will receive an estimated $8 billion and the federal government another $1.6 billion just from the in-province activity.

    EVREC’S EAR Document can be found at:

    Botwood and Area EVREC Green Energy Project – Environment and Climate Change (gov.nl.ca)

    About Abraxas Power:

    Abraxas Power is a pioneering energy transition developer focused on decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and creating value by solving the current and future challenges of the energy transition. Abraxas Power’s broad mandate allows it to see opportunities across technologies and geographies to transform the global energy industry. Our team has extensive experience in leading, financing, and solving the challenges associated with energy transition, and a proven track record of delivering complex, large-scale development projects across various disciplines, including renewable power and storage, hydrogen and ammonia production, industrial and precious metals, large-scale project construction, and operations at scale. The team possesses strong project finance and capital markets experience and has a history of creating value for shareholders, stakeholders, and the communities they live in. Abraxas has signed strategic partnerships with various global strategics and technology providers.

    Abraxas has secured over US$9 billion in capital projects through competitive government awards over the past year in furtherance of the energy transition, including our marquis Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (“EVREC”) project.
    To learn more, visit http://www.abraxaspower.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak: Russia is preparing to present its climate strategy at the international conference COP29 in Baku

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Alexander Novak, Alexey Overchuk and Maxim Reshetnikov took part in a meeting on the use of the results of the first stage of the most important innovative project of national importance “Russian Climate Monitoring System” in the formation of state climate policy measures

    October 7, 2024

    Alexander Novak took part in a meeting on the use of the results of the first stage of the most important innovative project of national importance “Russian Climate Monitoring System” in the formation of state climate policy measures

    October 7, 2024

    Alexander Novak, Alexey Overchuk and Maxim Reshetnikov took part in a meeting on the use of the results of the first stage of the most important innovative project of national importance “Russian Climate Monitoring System” in the formation of state climate policy measures

    October 7, 2024

    Alexander Novak, Alexey Overchuk and Maxim Reshetnikov took part in a meeting on the use of the results of the first stage of the most important innovative project of national importance “Russian Climate Monitoring System” in the formation of state climate policy measures

    October 7, 2024

    Alexander Novak, Alexey Overchuk took part in a meeting on the issue of using the results of the first stage of the most important innovative project of national importance “Russian Climate Monitoring System” in the formation of state climate policy measures

    October 7, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    Alexander Novak, Alexey Overchuk and Maxim Reshetnikov took part in a meeting on the use of the results of the first stage of the most important innovative project of national importance “Russian Climate Monitoring System” in the formation of state climate policy measures

    Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak took part in a meeting on the use of the results of the first stage of the most important innovative project of national importance (IIP GN) “Russian Climate Monitoring System” in the formation of state climate policy measures. The event took place at the Government Coordination Center.

    The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Presidential Aide on Climate Issues Ruslan Edelgeriev, representatives of the Government, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Roshydromet, Roscosmos, business, the scientific community, fuel and energy companies, etc.

    The parties discussed the results of the work of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Yu. A. Izrael Institute of Global Climate and Ecology” on adjusting the coefficients for greenhouse gas emissions in various industrial sectors – from agriculture to energy, petrochemistry and municipal solid waste management as part of the preparation of the draft National Inventory of Anthropogenic Emissions from Sources and Absorption by Sinks of Greenhouse Gases for 1990-2022. Data from Rosleskhoz, Earth remote sensing systems, etc. were used to adjust the coefficients. The second stage of the VIP GZ was instructed to be finalized.

    The monitoring system will ensure the formation of reliable and internationally recognized scientific data for assessing anthropogenic and natural flows of climate-active substances on the territory of the Russian Federation, and will also allow for the implementation of further measures to achieve the national goals set by the President, including in the field of ecology and climate.

    The Director of the Institute of Public Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported on forecasts of greenhouse gas emissions and absorption for the implementation of the goals of the Strategy for Socioeconomic Development with Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions until 2050.

    Alexander Novak thanked the scientists for their work and instructed them to coordinate the new data with industry plans for investment in emission reduction projects and environmental programs. The Ministry of Economic Development will have to finalize and coordinate with federal executive authorities the draft presidential decree on establishing a target indicator for greenhouse gas emissions for 2035 and the draft operational plan.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://government.ru/nevs/52927/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia – B10-0070/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

    Urmas Paet, Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Bernard Guetta, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar, Dainius Žalimas
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    B10‑0070/2024

    European Parliament resolution on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia

    (2024/2822(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia,

    – having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part[1],

    – having regard to the European Council conclusions of 14 and 15 December 2023 and to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2023)0690), which outline the steps for Georgia’s candidacy status, particularly step 9, concerning the freedom of civil society,

    – having regard to the statement by the spokesperson for the European External Action Service of 4 September 2024 on the legislative package on ‘family values and protection of minors’ in Georgia,

    – having regard to the statement of 18 September 2024 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the laws, adopted by the Georgian Parliament, on ‘family values and protection of minors’,

    – having regard to the opinions adopted or endorsed by the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) on various pieces of Georgian legislation at its 139th session (21-22 June 2024),

    – having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas the Constitution of Georgia protects the exercise of the freedoms of opinion, expression, association and peaceful assembly, and the right to universal, equal and free elections, as fundamental rights; whereas the Constitution of Georgia also guarantees the equality of all persons and protects them from discrimination; whereas, according to Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, ‘the constitutional bodies shall take all measures within the scope of their competences to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’;

    B. whereas, despite widespread public protests and calls from the EU and Georgia’s other Western partners, the ruling Georgian Dream party has adopted a Russian-inspired bill on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’, which requires civil society and media organisations that accept funds from abroad to register as ‘organisations pursuing the interest of a foreign power’ or face fines;

    C. whereas this legislation limits the capacity of civil society and media organisations to operate freely, curtails freedom of expression and unfairly stigmatises organisations that deliver clear benefits to the citizens of Georgia;

    D. whereas in March 2023, a proposal for similar legislation sparked widespread protests in Georgia, leading to its withdrawal; whereas since the proposal’s withdrawal in 2023, the ruling party and pro-government media have continued to escalate rhetoric against civil society and journalists;

    E. whereas on 20 February 2024, the ruling Georgian Dream party adopted amendments to the electoral legislation, endangering the independence and impartiality of the Central Election Commission and undermining public trust in this institution;

    F. whereas in late August 2024, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili urged voters to help the Georgian Dream party retain a supermajority in the Georgian Parliament in order to initiate the process of outlawing several opposition parties; whereas this was supported by Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who announced that the government would seek to ban more than half a dozen parties following the parliamentary elections;

    G. whereas on 17 September 2024, the ruling Georgian Dream party passed a law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, which strips LGBTIQ+ people of their rights;

    H. whereas two days after the introduction of the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, Kesaria Abramidze, a transgender model and prominent public figure, was killed in her apartment;

    I. whereas previously, on 4 April 2024, the ruling Georgian Dream party abolished the mandatory gender quotas for political parties’ electoral lists contained in Georgia’s election code and overturned the gender-related funding rule laid down in the law on political associations of citizens, thereby undoing the progress achieved on the promotion of women’s political participation and representation;

    J. whereas the Georgian authorities have not acted on a single recommendation of the Venice Commission regarding the annulment or modification of the above-mentioned legislation on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and on ‘family values and protection of minors’, the abolition of gender quotas in local and parliamentary elections, and the formation of the Central Election Commission;

    K. whereas the ruling Georgian Dream party and pro-government media are spreading anti-EU and anti-democratic propaganda, as well as conspiracy theories;

    L. whereas the ruling Georgian Dream party and its leadership continue to escalate divisive, distorted and violent rhetoric against political opponents and international partners, including Ukraine; whereas the ruling party uses despicable political banners depicting Ukrainian cities destroyed by Russia, thus capitalising on the suffering of brave Ukrainians;

    M. whereas Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s statement expressing his readiness to help Georgia normalise its relations with ‘the neighbouring … states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’ was praised by the leaders of the ruling party, demonstrating the Georgian Government’s departure from its policy of non-recognition of the occupied regions of Georgia;

    N. whereas in the Commission communication entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’, the Commission recommended granting candidate status to Georgia on the understanding that Georgia takes nine steps, which include combating disinformation and interference against the EU and its values, engaging opposition parties and civil society in governance, and ensuring freedom of assembly and expression, as well as consulting civil society and involving it meaningfully in legislative and policymaking processes and ensuring that civil society can operate freely;

    O. whereas on 14 December 2023, Georgia was granted EU candidate status by the European Council on the understanding that the nine steps set out in the Commission recommendation are taken;

    P. whereas Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that Georgia will not impose sanctions on Russia, but only prevent their circumvention from happening on its territory;

    Q. whereas trade and business cooperation between Georgia and Russia has increased over the past two years, with more than 100 000 Russians having moved to Georgia, opened more than 26 000 businesses, purchased real estate and engaged in activities that create risks of money laundering; whereas this situation jeopardises Georgia’s national security and increases its dependence on Russia;

    R. whereas in recent months, the United States has imposed financial sanctions on Georgian security officials and the leaders of a far-right party for undermining and suppressing the freedom of peaceful assembly in Georgia, and has imposed travel sanctions on 60 other individuals, including senior government officials; whereas the National Bank of Georgia has refused to comply with these sanctions;

    S. whereas parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Georgia on 26 October 2024;

    1. Strongly condemns the adoption of the so-called ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’ legislation, as well as the abolition of gender quotas in local and parliamentary elections and the changes in formation of the Central Election Commission by the Georgian Dream majority; underlines that this legislation is incompatible with EU norms and values, damages Georgia’s reputation and jeopardises its efforts towards EU accession;

    2. Urges the Georgian Dream majority to immediately withdraw the legislation on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’, to reintroduce gender quotas in local and parliamentary elections, and to ensure a consensus-based political process, which is crucial for the independence and impartiality of the Central Election Commission and for public trust in that institution; urges the Georgian Dream majority to implement the other recommendations of the Venice Commission; reiterates its call to cease all attacks on civil society, independent media, gender equality and the LGBTIQ+ community and to ensure a genuine enabling environment for civil society and media in the country;

    3. Stresses that the withdrawal of the legislation on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’ will be necessary steps in improving the relationship between the EU and Georgia;

    4. Stands in solidarity with the courageous Georgian people fighting for their democratic rights and the European future of their country; reiterates its unwavering support for all those who advocate for and defend human rights and work for a peaceful country and society committed to equality and human dignity for all;

    5. Calls for the EU funding provided to the Georgian Government to be frozen until these illiberal pieces of legislation are repealed, and for strict conditions to be placed on the disbursement of any future funding to the Georgian Government;

    6. Reiterates its calls on the Commission to promptly assess how Georgia’s legislation on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the abolition of gender quotas and other changes in its electoral legislation, and the implementation of the Venice Commission’s recommendations in general, affect Georgia’s continuous fulfilment of the visa liberalisation benchmarks, in particular the fundamental rights benchmark, which is a crucial component of the EU visa liberalisation policy;

    7. Calls for the EU and its Member States to impose sanctions on Georgian officials who are involved in human rights violations against Georgian citizens or in the country’s democratic backsliding; reiterates its call on the Council to consider imposing personal sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili for his role in the deterioration of the political process and the human rights situation in Georgia; urges Georgian commercial banks to implement international sanctions;

    8. Reminds the Georgian Government that the EU granted Georgia candidate status on the understanding that the steps set out in the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 would be taken; underscores that the recently adopted pieces of legislation clearly go against this goal and put Georgia’s EU integration on hold;

    9. Reiterates its call on the Georgian Government to uphold its commitment to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and encourages it to adopt and implement reforms that are in line with its stated objective of joining the EU, as demanded by a large majority of Georgia’s citizens;

    10. Strongly urges Georgia, as an EU candidate country, to impose sanctions on Russia in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and to effectively enforce measures to prevent the circumvention of EU sanctions, as it has committed to doing; is deeply concerned by the alignment of the Georgian Government with Russian policies and the increasing dependence of Georgia on Russia, and by the Georgian Dream party’s use of violent images of the war in Ukraine as a means of manipulating public opinion and spreading disinformation in its campaign ahead of the October 2024 elections; calls on Georgia to fully align with the EU’s foreign policy and the EU’s strategy towards Russia;

    11. Calls for the EU and its Member States to guarantee their full support to Georgian civil society organisations in this difficult period, including on issues linked to fines and other burdens imposed on them by the new legislation;

    12. Urges the Georgian authorities to ensure that the October 2024 parliamentary elections adhere to the highest international standards, guaranteeing a transparent, free and fair process that reflects the democratic will of the people; urges the abolition of the ingrained practice of misusing public resources and administrative capacity for the benefit of the ruling party; insists that the presence of both domestic and international observers should be ensured in order to safeguard the integrity of the elections and calls for an expanded EU election observation mission;

    13. Is deeply concerned by reports that the Georgian Government is creating obstacles for the coalition of 30 NGOs and Transparency International Georgia in their efforts to conduct the ‘Go Out and Vote’ campaign; considers these obstacles an attempt to undermine democracy in the country;

    14. Is extremely concerned about the police brutality that occurred during the protests of March-June 2024 in Tbilisi, and calls on the Georgian authorities to conduct timely and thorough investigations into that police brutality;

    15. Reiterates its call for an impartial and independent long-term international election observation mission by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, in order to monitor Georgia’s upcoming parliamentary elections;

    16. Reiterates its call on the Georgian authorities to immediately release former President Mikheil Saakashvili and to allow him to receive proper medical treatment abroad;

    17. Calls for the EU and its Member States to continue to pay close attention to these matters and to closely monitor developments in Georgia ahead of and after the country’s October 2024 parliamentary elections;

    18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia.

     

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections – B10-0073/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

    Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Cristian Terheş, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Jaak Madison, Rihards Kols, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Carlo Fidanza, Michał Dworczyk, Roberts Zīle, Alberico Gambino, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ivaylo Valchev, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Tobiasz Bocheński, Assita Kanko, Alexandr Vondra
    on behalf of the ECR Group

    B10‑0073/2024

    European Parliament resolution on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections

    (2024/2821(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on the Republic of Moldova and on Eastern Partnership countries,

    – having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part[1], which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and which fully entered into force on 1 July 2016,

    – having regard to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union,

    – having regard to the Republic of Moldova’s application for European Union (EU) membership, submitted on 3 March 2022,

    – having regard to the Versailles Declaration of 10 and 11 March 2022,

    – having regard to the EU statement of 21 March 2024 at the OSCE Permanent Council No 1466 in Vienna on the recent security incidents in the Transnistrian region,

    – having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas a presidential election is scheduled to be held in Moldova on 20 October 2024; whereas a referendum on Moldova’s accession to the EU is set to take place on the same day as the presidential election;

    B. whereas Russia has persistently sought to influence, subvert and undermine free, fair and independent elections in Moldova, as well as in various EU countries, by using disinformation, covert activities, corruption and many other hybrid warfare tactics aimed at destabilising the West; whereas, despite recent legislative improvements, concerns regarding campaign financing and the use of illicit Russian funds to influence electoral outcomes remain among the most sensitive issues within Moldova’s electoral landscape; whereas Russia’s efforts to exert influence are expected to increase in the run-up to Moldova’s presidential election;

    C. whereas there has been a noticeable shift in Russian interference tactics, with Russia expanding its support beyond traditional hard-line pro-Russian parties to a broader spectrum of political actors; whereas this spectrum now includes not only moderately pro-Russian and pro-Moldovan groups but also groups presenting themselves as ‘pro-European’; whereas this strategy appears, deceptively, to offer disillusioned voters a range of alternatives to the Party of Action and Solidarity, seeking to fragment the political landscape and dilute genuine support for the current government; whereas this shift reflects the Kremlin’s evolving approach to influence operations, prioritising the creation of multiple fronts to undermine democratic processes and foment internal discord;

    D. whereas Moldova’s local elections on 5 November 2023 reportedly saw unprecedented levels of Russian interference, including disinformation campaigns, voter bribery and financial support for pro-Russian parties, which pose a serious threat to Moldova’s democratic process ahead of the presidential election in October 2024; whereas recent reports by Moldovan investigators unveil the possibility that more than USD 15 million of Russian funds have allegedly been transferred to bribe voters in the upcoming elections;

    E. whereas Moldova has taken steps to combat Russian interference, including by banning pro-Russian parties, sanctioning oligarchs, suspending media outlets that spread disinformation, and increasing customs controls; whereas these efforts require further support from the international community and the EU in particular;

    F. whereas on 3 March 2022 the Republic of Moldova applied for EU membership and, on 17 June 2022, the European Commission presented its opinions on the applications submitted by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova; whereas Moldova was granted the status of candidate country on 23 June 2022 by unanimous agreement of the 27 Member States; whereas the Commission outlined nine steps for Moldova to address in its 2023 Enlargement Package report, which was presented on 8 November 2023, recommending the opening of accession negotiations, provided that remaining reforms in justice, anti-corruption and deoligarchisation were accomplished; whereas the Council decided to open accession negotiations on 14 December 2023, and the first intergovernmental conference formally launching these negotiations was held on 25 June 2024;

    G. whereas the EU has imposed sanctions on key Moldovan oligarchs and pro-Russian actors, and the United States (US) has repeatedly warned Moldova of Russian plans to destabilise and overthrow its government;

    H. whereas Russian actors, including sanctioned individuals like fugitive Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor, have been directly involved in those destabilisation efforts, using state-funded Russian media outlets located in Russian territory and criminal networks to influence Moldovan politics;

    I. whereas Russian interference, combined with Moldova’s vulnerable economic situation, political divisions and geostrategic importance, risks undermining Moldova’s future in the EU, despite its significant progress towards EU accession; whereas oligarch-backed media and corrupt financial networks continue to destabilise Moldova’s political landscape, posing a threat to its sovereignty and democratic institutions;

    J. whereas Russia Today (RT) and its employees, including editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, have directly coordinated with the Kremlin to support Russian Government efforts to influence the October 2024 Moldovan election; whereas Simonyan leverages the state-funded platforms in which she holds leadership positions – namely RT, Sputnik, and their parent company, the international information agency Rossiya Segodnya, a federal state unitary enterprise – to attempt to foment unrest in Moldova, likely with the specific aim of causing protests to turn violent;

    K. whereas Russia is escalating its years of ‘grey zone’ assaults on Moldova through disinformation, cyberattacks, bomb threats and other manipulations; whereas this campaign is part of what experts and government officials discuss as Russia’s steadily evolving hybrid war from the Baltic to the Black Sea: its invasion of Ukraine and destabilisation efforts against Georgia, Estonia and other neighbours; whereas Putin’s primary instruments for destabilising Moldova are propaganda and the corruption exercised by billionaire allies such as Ilan Shor and former ruling party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc, as well as Russia’s influence over two regions: Gagauzia, a stronghold of Ilan Shor in the south, and Transnistria, located on Moldova’s eastern border and controlled by Russian troops;

    L. whereas in 2023, the Russian government expanded the operational scope of RT by embedding within it a cyber-unit with direct ties to the Russian state; whereas this unit has been involved in intelligence and influence operations globally, including in Moldova; whereas the information gathered by this entity, operating under RT’s cover, is reportedly funnelled to Russian intelligence agencies, state-controlled media, mercenary groups and other actors aligned with the Russian Government; whereas RT is also engaged in disinformation campaigns, covert influence operations and military procurement efforts in support of Russia’s war in Ukraine;

    M. whereas the Intelligence and Security Service of the Republic of Moldova published a report in 2023 highlighting the unprecedented intensity of the actions carried out by the Russian Federation aimed at anchoring the Republic of Moldova within its sphere of influence; whereas the mechanism used to carry out this threat is of a hybrid nature, aiming operationally at attacking democratic processes and undermining Moldova’s path towards European integration by amplifying radical, separatist tendencies in the southern region of Moldova, particularly in Gagauzia, spreading propaganda and altering the information space, interfering in Moldova’s electoral process and conducting subversive operations;

    N. whereas on 18 September 2024 two close allies of Ilan Shor – Marina Tauber, member of the Parliament of Moldova, and Governor (Bashkan) of Gagauzia Evghenia Guțul – met the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, and subsequently released false information about the EU and Moldova’s future in it, thus manipulating Moldovan citizens and trying to influence the upcoming election;

    O. whereas Moldova faces growing economic and security challenges, including the risk of political backsliding if Russia-backed candidates succeed in the upcoming presidential election;

    P. whereas Ukraine’s decision to close its border with Transnistria, which hosts 1 500 Russian troops, significantly curtailed trade between Kyiv and Tiraspol, cutting off critical revenue streams and reducing Transnistria’s trade volumes with Russia by 22 % in 2022; whereas Moldova now controls most of Transnistria’s access to external trade, representing an unprecedented opportunity to influence the separatist region; whereas Moldova has implemented a pressure strategy that includes criminalising separatism, tightening customs checks and stripping Transnistrian businesses of customs privileges, thus creating significant economic strain; whereas, despite receiving free Russian gas, Transnistria remains vulnerable to the potential cutting off of the Russian gas transit through Ukraine by December 2024, which could leave the region without energy;

    Q. whereas Russia has a substantial military presence in the Black Sea, including through undisclosed numbers and capabilities of its submarines, and considerable potential to dominate adjacent maritime transport routes; whereas the volatile situation in Transnistria poses a strategic risk, as Russia could seize control of the region and escalate the conflict, owing to Ukraine’s likely military response;

    R. whereas, according to journalistic investigations, dozens of priests from the Metropolis of Moldova travel to Russia, where they receive cards through which they later withdraw funds; whereas these trips are reportedly organised by Ilan Shor in close collaboration with the Russian Orthodox Church, which is closely aligned with the Kremlin regime, with the intention of using the clergy for electoral purposes;

    S. whereas in response to Russia’s continued efforts to undermine Moldovan democracy and interfere in Moldova’s electoral processes, the US State Department is imposing additional sanctions on a critical aspect of Russia’s malign influence in Moldova;

    1. Stands in solidarity with the people of the Republic of Moldova and reiterates its unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders; in particular, commends Moldova for its 2022 electoral code reforms, which addressed long-standing recommendations and set a stronger framework for the upcoming election and for an increase in the number of polling stations abroad and a new partial postal voting initiative; stresses also the important role being played by the Republic of Moldova in the safety and stability of the EU’s eastern border in the context of the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

    2. Strongly condemns Russia’s repeated attempts to destabilise the Republic of Moldova, its institutions and society; calls on the Russian authorities to respect the Republic of Moldova’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, to cease its provocations and attempts to destabilise the country, and to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from the occupied territories of Moldova (Transnistria), Georgia (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) and Ukraine;

    3. Reaffirms its full commitment to the Republic of Moldova’s membership of the EU; welcomes the Moldovan authorities’ considerable efforts to advance the reform agenda and their determination to fulfil the nine steps identified in the Commission’s opinion of 17 June 2022 in order to progress towards EU membership, despite Russia’s pressure on Moldova and the crises triggered by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

    4. Stresses that, based on the experience of the 2023 local elections, the Russian Federation is likely to employ the tactic of using ‘filler’ parties in the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2025, creating a smokescreen to facilitate the entry of at least one Ilan Shor-controlled party into Parliament;

    5. Congratulates Moldova for the first intergovernmental conference on the opening of accession negotiations, which occurred in June 2024, only two years after the granting of candidate status, and thus serves as evidence of Moldova’s determination to fulfil the EU’s reform agenda; acknowledges the significant progress made by Moldova in the EU accession process and calls for the intergovernmental conference to conclude cluster 1 of the negotiations in the coming year;

    6. Calls on NATO and its members to consider enhancing NATO’s naval presence and readiness in the Black Sea region;

    7. Calls for the EU to support Moldova’s efforts toward the peaceful reintegration of Transnistria by providing financial and technical assistance for economic stabilisation, social cohesion measures and the diversification of Transnistria’s energy through neighbouring Member States, ensuring that Moldova’s progress toward EU accession is not undermined by the unresolved status of Transnistria;

    8. Encourages the Government of Moldova, as the country advances on its path to EU accession, to repair the injustices done by the oppressive Soviet occupation to all religious denominations;

    9. Recognises the Orthodox Metropolis of Bessarabia as a victim of Soviet oppression; notes in this regard that the Orthodox Metropolis of Bessarabia, after it was abusively abolished by the Soviet authorities, was not officially recognised until 2002, after a decision of the European Court of Human Rights;

    10. Calls on the Commission, the European External Action Service and the Member States to urgently provide funding and expertise to support the training of short-term election observers in Moldova for the October 2024 elections, in collaboration with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and its dedicated services and offices;

    11. Calls on the Commission to consider enhanced cooperation to provide Moldova with specific counter-interference technical assistance and to improve Moldova’s election infrastructure, including assisting with the implementation of secure voting technologies and measures to ensure the integrity of the transmission of vote count results;

    12. Urges the Commission to develop and present a comprehensive growth plan for Moldova that would aim to facilitate foreign investment and foster economic development within the country; calls for the continued provision of robust financial support to Moldova to ensure its sustainable growth and stability; further calls for the permanent abolition of import duties and quotas on Moldovan exports to the EU;

    13. Welcomes the assistance provided under the European Peace Facility in support of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova, aimed at modernising the country’s air defence capabilities, and calls for the continued provision of such support; notes that every sovereign state has the inherent right to invest in its defence capabilities, and affirms that such actions are fully consistent with the Republic of Moldova’s status of neutrality;

    14. Commends the launch of the EU Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova under the common security and defence policy, aimed at strengthening the resilience of Moldova’s security sector; strongly supports the mission’s activities and its role in providing crucial assistance and expertise to enhance the country’s security and stability;

    15. Commends the signing of the security and defence partnership, which will strengthen Moldova’s resilience and enable the EU and Moldova to jointly address common security challenges; emphasises that Moldova is the first country to sign such a partnership with the EU, demonstrating the strong commitment of both parties to enhanced cooperation in the field of security and defence;

    16. Calls for the EU, the US, Canada and the United Kingdom to continue to apply and expand sanctions against individuals, media outlets and entities involved in Kremlin-sponsored activities to subvert the democratic processes and electoral integrity of Moldova and all EU countries and partners;

    17. Urges the Moldovan Government to increase vigilance over potential electoral irregularities, enhance public communication on election security, and prepare to address Russian attempts to incite protests following the election results;

    18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia – B10-0079/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

    Rasa Juknevičienė, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Halicki, Sebastião Bugalho, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Nicolás Pascual De La Parte, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Wouter Beke, Daniel Caspary, Sandra Kalniete, Ondřej Kolář, Andrey Kovatchev, Andrius Kubilius, Miriam Lexmann, Vangelis Meimarakis, Ana Miguel Pedro, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Szczerba, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Matej Tonin, Milan Zver
    on behalf of the PPE Group

    B10‑0079/2024

    European Parliament resolution on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia

    (2024/2822(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia,

    – having regard to the statement by the High Representative and the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement of 17 April 2024 on the adoption of the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ law,

    – having regard to the statement by the High Representative of 18 September 2024 on the Georgian law on ‘family values and protection of minors’,

    – having regard to the statement by the European External Action Service Spokesperson of 4 April 2024 on the draft law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’,

    – having regard to the European Council conclusions of 14 and 15 December 2023,

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2023)0690),

    – having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part[1],

    – having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

    – having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,

    – having regard to the joint statement by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus and the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Georgia of 18 April 2024 on the reintroduction of the draft law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ in Georgia,

    – having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas the exercise of freedom of opinion, expression, association and peaceful assembly is a fundamental rights enshrined in the Georgian Constitution;

    B. whereas Georgia, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as a member of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has committed itself to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights;

    C. whereas Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution provides that ‘the constitutional bodies shall take all measures within the scope of their competence to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’;

    D. whereas the EU expects Georgia, a candidate country for EU accession, to abide fully by the Association Agreement and other international commitments it has made and, in particular, to fulfil the conditions and take the steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 8 November 2023; whereas the European Council decided to grant candidate status to Georgia solely on the understanding that these steps would be taken, including combating disinformation and interference against the EU and its values, engaging opposition parties and civil society in governance, and ensuring freedom of assembly and expression, as well as meaningfully consulting civil society and involving it in legislative and policymaking processes and ensuring that it can operate freely;

    E. whereas on 20 February 2024 the Parliament of Georgia passed amendments to the electoral code, changing the procedure for the election of chairman and so-called professional members of the Central Election Commission and abolishing the post of deputy chairman, which is filled by an opposition representative;

    F. whereas on 4 April 2024 the Georgian Parliament adopted amendments to the country’s electoral code, abolishing mandatory parliamentary quotas for women, which required that at least one in four candidates on a party list be of a different gender than the majority;

    G. whereas on 28 May 2024, the Georgian Parliament adopted the so-called transparency of foreign influence law, which requires organisations receiving over 20 % of their funding from abroad to register within two months as ‘organisations pursuing the interests of a foreign power’ and label themselves as such; whereas these organisations are subjected to additional scrutiny, reporting requirements and possibly sanctions, including administrative penalties of up to GEL 25 000; whereas this law seriously restricts media and civil society organisations’ ability to operate freely; whereas adopting this law has led to the suspension of EU financial assistance for Georgia;

    H. whereas on 6 June 2024 the US imposed visa restrictions on dozens of Georgian officials over the adoption of the ‘foreign agents law’;

    I. whereas on 11 July 2024 the US Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted Georgia sanctions legislation known as the Megobari Act, which imposes sanctions against Georgian officials responsible for undermining the country’s democratic system;

    J. whereas on 17 September 2024 the Georgian Parliament passed a law on ‘family values and the protection of minors’, which strips the LGBTI community of its rights and bans Pride events and public displays of the rainbow flag;

    K. whereas a parliamentary election will take place in Georgia on 26 October 2024; whereas there is growing anti-Western and hostile rhetoric from the Georgian Dream party against Georgia’s democratic partners, as well as promotion of Russian disinformation and manipulation; whereas the Georgian Dream party is pursuing a narrative of the West as a ‘global war party’ trying to push Georgia back into a war with Russia;

    L. whereas on 28 August 2024, the leader of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, at the inauguration of his party’s electoral campaign, spoke of his desire to ban democratic opposition parties; whereas he was seconded by the Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, who stated that if their party achieved a majority in the Georgian Parliament, it would ban certain opposition parties;

    1. Strongly condemns the adoption of the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the changes to the electoral code; considers that the foregoing are incompatible with EU values and democratic principles, run against Georgia’s ambitions for EU membership, damage Georgia’s international reputation and endanger the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration; strongly underlines that unless the abovementioned legislation is rescinded, progress cannot be made in Georgia’s relations with the EU; regrets that Georgia, once a champion of democratic progress with Euro-Atlantic aspirations, has been in a democratic backsliding free fall for a considerable period;

    2. Expects Georgian Dream to respect the will and free choice of the Georgian people in the upcoming parliamentary election and to relinquish power peacefully if defeated; demands that Georgian Dream and its leaders immediately stop the violence, intimidation, hate speech, persecution and repression that it is committing against the opposition, civil society and independent media;

    3. Strongly believes that the EU should consider temporarily suspending its visa-free regime with Georgia if the conduct of the election is not in line with accepted international standards and base its decision to do so also on Georgia’s fulfilment of the visa liberalisation benchmarks, in particular the fundamental rights benchmark;

    4. Strongly believes that the upcoming election will be decisive in determining Georgia’s future democratic development and geopolitical choice, as well its ability to make progress with its EU member state candidacy; considers that the result of the Georgian election should allow the country to return to its pro-Western democratic agenda, implement the necessary reforms and launch accession negotiations with the EU;

    5. Reiterates its unwavering support for the Georgian people’s legitimate European aspirations and their wish to live in a prosperous country, free from corruption, that fully respects fundamental freedoms, protects human rights and guarantees an open society and independent media; underlines that the decision to grant Georgia EU candidate country status was motivated by the wish to acknowledge the achievements and democratic efforts of Georgia’s civil society, as well as the overwhelming support for EU accession among its citizens; appreciates the efforts made by Georgia’s President Salome Zourabishvili to return Georgia to the democratic and pro-European path of development;

    6. Deplores the personal role played by Georgia’s sole oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who returned to active politics on 30 December 2023 when he became ‘honorary chairman’ of the Georgian Dream party, in the current political crisis and in yet another attempt to undermine the country’s Western-oriented course in favour of pivoting towards Russia; reiterates its call on the Council and the EU’s democratic partners to consider imposing personal sanctions on Ivanishvili for his role in bringing about the deterioration of the political process in Georgia and in working against the interests of its people;

    7. Calls for the EU and its Member States to hold to account and impose personal sanctions on all those responsible for undermining democracy in Georgia, who are complicit in the violence committed against political opponents and peaceful protesters and who spread anti-Western disinformation; welcomes the personal sanctions imposed by the US on Georgian Dream officials;

    8. Highlights the worrying fact that many recent legislative decisions of Georgian Dream betray the aspirations of the large majority of the Georgian people to live in a democratic society, continue democratic and rule of law reforms, pursue close cooperation with Euro-Atlantic partners and commit to a path towards EU membership;

    9. Emphasises that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and to peaceful protest are fundamental freedoms and must be respected under all circumstances, particularly in a country aspiring to join the EU;

    10. Recalls that the European Council of 14 and 15 December 2023 granted Georgia candidate country status on the understanding that the relevant steps set out in the Commission recommendation of 8 November 2023 would be taken; stresses that recently adopted legislation clearly goes against this ambition and has effectively put on hold Georgia’s integration into the EU;

    11. Urges the Georgian Government to return to its European path, uphold its commitment to respect, strengthen and promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and genuinely engage in the full implementation of the steps required to fulfil the conditions for candidate country status and EU membership, in a spirit of engagement and cooperation with Georgia’s civil society and political opposition;

    12. Reiterates the tangible opportunities that Georgia would take advantage of once the accession negotiations begin, such as pre-accession assistance that would improve the standard of living of Georgian citizens, as well as support the institutions, infrastructure and social services;

    13. Expresses deep concern about the increased influence of Russia in Georgia, the increased number of Russian citizens residing in Georgia, increased trade ties with Russia, and Georgia’s willingness to pursue reconciliation with Russia despite Russia’s war in Ukraine and its occupation of a fifth of Georgian sovereign territory; calls on the Government of Georgia to impose sanctions against Russia in response to its war of aggression against Ukraine;

    14. Reiterates its call on the Georgian authorities to release former President Mikheil Saakashvili from prison;

    15. Calls on the Georgian Bureau of Investigation to conduct a thorough investigation of police brutality during the spring protests against the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ in Georgia;

    16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU finance ministers welcome proposals for new EIB Group initiatives to deepen Europe’s capital markets, channel savings into productive investments and boost competitiveness

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • Plans discussed with European Finance ministers in Luxembourg will broaden financing options and tools available to scale up European innovative companies and unicorns.
    • The instruments to be deployed by the EIB Group include expanding the successful European Tech Champions Initiative Fund-of-Funds, equity and venture capital investments for scale-ups, and a new Exit platform to facilitate purchases and listing of tech start-ups.

    European Union Finance ministers have welcomed an Action Plan to be deployed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, to support the development of the Capital Markets Union. The Plan includes measures to untap private savings and channel them into productive investment, to boost innovation, competitiveness, strategic autonomy, and productivity growth in Europe.

    The Action Plan was discussed at the meeting of EIB Group President Nadia Calviño with finance ministers at the Eurogroup in Luxembourg today. It was developed after months of intensive engagement with member states and financial markets partners, and received broad support by the Boards of Directors of the EIB and of the European Investment Fund (EIF) last week.

    EIB Group President Nadia Calviño, said “The EIB Group is itself already a Capital Markets Union instrument. The Action Plan discussed with ministers will help European innovators scale up their business and contribute to channel savings into productive investments, boost innovation, create jobs and lead Europe toward a more robust growth model, ensuring that European companies born in Europe, stay in Europe”.

    The Action Plan covers three main areas:

    • Improving market integration for green and digital bonds: The EIB Group will continue to play a leading role in the European green bond market, through issuance and also scaling up bond acquisition.
    • Closing the funding gap throughout the company and innovation cycle: The EIB Group plans to scale up support for the EU venture capital and private equity markets to help close the financing gap and to retain the most innovative scale-ups in Europe.
    • Mobilizing large-scale investments for EU policy priorities: For instance, working with the Commission on a financing platform for housing.

    Today’s meeting has focused on the second area, with proposals to finance the scale-up of European unicorns, including through an extension of the successful European Tech Champions Initiative, scaling up equity and venture debt investments and  a new dedicated fund, an “exit platform”, for financing acquisitions and listing of tech start-ups by European companies.

    These proposals will be further discussed and finalised by the EIB’s Board of Directors, in partnership with the Commission. Today’s discussion follows up on the Eurogroup’s mandate in March for the EIB Group to support the integration of European capital markets with new instruments that will further facilitate access to financing for small and medium-sized businesses and innovators.

    EU leaders committed, in April 2024, to advancing work without delay toward integrating the Union’s capital markets, while a Savings and Investment Union, including banking and capital markets, is among the flagship goals included in the political guidelines of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the new institutional cycle. Helping develop well-functioning cross border capital markets is among the EIB Group’s core priorities, included in the Strategic Roadmap for 2024-2027, which was unanimously endorsed by EU finance ministers in June.

    Capital markets fragmentation has been singled out as a key impediment to European competitiveness by both Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi in their flagship reports. The European Central Bank has repeatedly emphasized that deep and integrated single market for capital is essential for financial stability and for achieving some of the EU’s flagship policy goals, from financing the green and digital transitions to enabling savers to earn higher returns.

    The EIB Group is uniquely positioned to support the development of a European Savings and Investments Union, as it is the only truly pan-European financial institution, with operations in every member state and every region of the EU. It has an unparalleled record and expertise in introducing and shaping innovative financing instruments and tools.

    The EIB Group has just reached the €100bn milestone of green bond issuance, since pioneering this market back in 2007, and is the largest provider of venture debt in Europe. It offers a full range of products and services, from debt and equity to advisory, to clients ranging from public sector and large corporates to SMEs and innovative startups. The EIB Group has a stellar AAA credit rating, and outstanding Environmental, Social and Governance credentials.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment contributing toward EU policy goals. The EIB Group is the largest provider of venture debt in Europe and the largest public investor in European venture capital funds. It is also a major financier of climate investment, with over €100 in cumulative green bond issuances, and is well on track to support €1 trillion in green investment in the critical decade to 2030.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed a total of €88 billion in new financing for over 900 projects last year. These commitments are expected to mobilise around €320 billion in investment, supporting 400 000 companies and 5.4 million jobs. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower. This underscores the Bank’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and the convergence of living standards.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Agenda – Tuesday, 8 October 2024 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    26 The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe 25 Strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration     – Motion for a resolution Friday, 4 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 13:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 24 The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia     – Motion for a resolution Friday, 4 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 13:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 4 October 2024, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 7 October 2024, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Agenda – Wednesday, 9 October 2024 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    25 Strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration     – Motion for a resolution Friday, 4 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 13:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 24 The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia     – Motion for a resolution Friday, 4 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 13:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 30 Urgent need to revise the medical devices regulation     – Motions for resolutions Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Monday, 21 October 2024, 19:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Monday, 21 October 2024, 20:00 39 The case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 38 The cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 40 Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 4 October 2024, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 7 October 2024, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Takes Action to Shut Down Monroe County Nonprofit for Financial Mismanagement

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a petition to dissolve the Community Resource Collaborative (CRC), a Monroe County not-for-profit, for misusing government funds intended to support local organizations that provide services to Rochester-area communities. The CRC, founded by Tina Paradiso, was created in 2021 to distribute millions of dollars in federal funds to 12 local organizations that provide housing, food, and other essential services to New Yorkers in the Rochester area as part of a program known as the Neighborhood Collaborative Project. However, the CRC’s executives used tens of thousands of dollars in federal funds to pay for personal expenses and failed to deliver more than $243,000 to the local organizations that were promised aid. Attorney General James seeks to dissolve CRC and appoint a receiver to liquidate its remaining assets to distribute owed funds to the local nonprofits.

    “Vulnerable communities in the Rochester area were relying on financial support from the Community Resource Collaborative, but they only saw a fraction of what they were promised,” said Attorney General James. “The CRC’s executives cheated local organizations that provide essential services to the needy to pay for their personal luxuries instead. To right this wrong, my office is taking action to dissolve CRC for rampant financial mismanagement and to help recoup funds for nonprofits that were promised aid and were left empty-handed.” 

    In November 2022, CRC was chosen to receive $7.1 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act over a four-year period for the Neighborhood Collaborative Project, an initiative intended to fund 12 local nonprofits that serve the Rochester area. In 2023, CRC received $1,067,971 in federal funding, but only $750,514 was distributed to the local nonprofits. 

    An audit into CRC by Monroe County found that the nonprofit paid for expenses unrelated to its mission, including $28,000 in transportation expenses, most of them Uber charges for CRC executives, and $180,000 in disbursements to repay loans made by CRC’s founder, Tina Paradiso. The organization also made direct payments to its directors for no apparent reason, including $28,000 in rent payments to Tina Paradiso’s company Imprintable Solutions, $10,000 for personal security, and $20,000 in direct payments to CRC board member Anthony Hall. The report also concluded that CRC failed to maintain a proper financial management system and financial records. In many instances, accounting entries lacked detail and disbursements were not accounted for by the program and/or agency. 

    As a result of this self-dealing and financial mismanagement, the CRC failed to deliver $243,907.02 to community charities that provide food, housing, and other services and were promised aid.

    Through this petition, Attorney General James seeks to dissolve CRC for violating New York’s not-for-profit corporation laws and to appoint a receiver to liquidate CRC’s assets and use those funds to pay the local nonprofits the money they are owed. 

    Attorney General James thanks the Monroe County Law Department for their cooperation and assistance in this matter.

    Attorney General James has always held nonprofits, organizations, and bad actors accountable when they misuse charitable funds. In May 2024, Attorney General James secured nearly $6.3 million for individuals who were defrauded by an Albany attorney and a financial advisor who looted family trusts intended to benefit charitable organizations throughout the Capital Region. In August 2023, Attorney General James recovered $510,000 for charity from Long Island lawyers who allegedly illegally paid themselves more than $1.3 million from a deceased client’s trust and charitable foundation. In February 2022, Attorney General James sued the former President and CEO of the Humanitarian Organization for Multicultural Experiences, Inc. (H.O.M.E.) for diverting or misusing nearly a million dollars in H.O.M.E.’s charitable assets for her personal gain. In May 2019, Attorney General James announced a settlement with Oneonta Elks over their wrongful use of charitable assets to pay for capital improvements to its lodge building and property, as well as covering general operating expenses. 

    This matter is being handled by Deputy Assistant Attorney General in Charge Benjamin Bruce and Assistant Attorney General Audrey Cooper both of the Rochester Regional Office which is led by Assistant Attorney General-in-Charge Ted O’Brien.  The Rochester Regional Office is a part of the Division of Regional Offices, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Jill Faber and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor issues statement on the death of John Arthur Smith

    Source: US State of New Mexico

    SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement Monday on the passing of Senator John Arthur Smith

    “Today, I join New Mexicans in mourning the loss of Sen. John Arthur Smith, an extraordinary public servant and a cherished colleague and mentor of mine and many other public servants in our state.

    Senator Smith was committed to fiscal responsibility while consistently aiming to improve quality of life for all New Mexicans. His leadership of the Senate Finance Committee helped put the state on sound financial footing and earned respect from colleagues across the political spectrum. Senator was not only a masterful legislator; he was kind and honest. He provided an example of ethical and decent conduct that all elected officials, including those in Washington, D.C., would be wise to follow.

    Senator Smith’s lifetime of dedication to New Mexico leaves a legacy that will continue to benefit our communities for generations to come. All New Mexicans owe him a debt of gratitude.

    An announcement regarding lowering state flags in honor of Senator John Arthur Smith’s many contributions to New Mexico will be forthcoming.

    Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Janette, his family, and the countless individuals whose lives he touched.

    May he rest in peace.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Instructions for Aliens

    Source: NASA

    The golden records placed aboard Voyager 1 and 2 each have a cover with special etchings, seen here in this photo from Sept. 4, 1977. These drawings show how the record should be used to receive a message from Earth.
    For example, the drawing in the bottom right corner is of the phonograph record and the stylus carried with it; the stylus is in the correct position for the record to be played from the beginning. The lines around the record mark the time of one rotation of the record, 3.6 seconds, in binary arithmetic. The drawing also indicates that the record should be played from the outside in.
    The Golden Record itself contains 115 images and a variety of natural sounds, such as those made by surf, wind and thunder, birds, whales, and other animals, as well as musical selections from different cultures and eras, spoken greetings from Earth-people in fifty-five languages, and printed messages from President Carter and U.N. Secretary General Waldheim. The contents of the record were selected for NASA by a committee chaired by Carl Sagan.
    Discover what the other drawings on the Golden Record cover reveal.
    Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen, DeGette Announce Support for Colorado River District’s Application for Funding to Complete Shoshone Water Rights Purchase

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
    Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, Brittany Pettersen, and Diana DeGette, wrote to the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (CRWCD) application for federal funding to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in Colorado, known as the Shoshone Permanency Project. The lawmakers offered their support as part of an ongoing BOR funding opportunity to provide environmental benefits in response to drought, which remains open for additional projects in Colorado and the rest of the Upper Colorado River Basin.
    “The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the state of Colorado,” wrote the lawmakers. “Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years.”
    The 1902 Senior and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Rights currently held by Xcel Energy are used to generate power at the Shoshone Power Plant and then return it to the river. Communities across Western Colorado have already committed over $55 million, and are applying to BOR for funding from the Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program to help complete the purchase and create stability for communities, water and recreational users, and the environment. The Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program funding opportunity is open for application through November 22, 2024, and the lawmakers welcome other applicants to contact their offices on the opportunity to provide support. 
    “This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies,”continue the lawmakers. “We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention.”
    As part of the Shoshone Permanency Project, CRWCD will seek a change in these rights to include an alternate beneficial use and preserve the historical flow regime. The state process for changing these decreed water rights is distinct from any federal funding review or outcome, and will proceed separately. As acknowledged in the letter, data collection and analysis related to the Shoshone water rights’ historic use is ongoing and important to the state of Colorado’s formal review. 
    As the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources, Bennet has consistently worked with his colleagues to help communities in Colorado and across the American West as they face the effects of climate change. In June 2022, as Subcommittee Chair, Bennet held the Senate’s very first hearing on Western drought. In June 2024, Bennet and Subcommittee Ranking Member U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) held a field hearing in Burlington, Colorado, to hear from Western producers and agricultural leaders facing historic drought. 
    Bennet and Hickenlooper fought to include $8 billion for Western water infrastructure, $10 billion for forests, $19 billion for agricultural conservation, and $4 billion for drought in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In September 2022, Bennet, Neguse, and Crow urged BOR to prioritize funding for long-term, permanent solutions to the Colorado River drought crisis as it worked to allocate the $4 billion for Western drought from the IRA. After calling on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change in April 2024, Bennet welcomed $400 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for investments at the irrigation district scale to address drought in August. The lawmakers will continue to work with communities and water users across the state to ensure as much of this funding as possible comes to the state of Colorado.
    The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear Commissioner Touton:
    We write in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (the River District) application to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation funding opportunity, referred to as Bucket 2E. As you know, the Inflation Reduction Act provided a historic $4 billion to address issues caused by drought, including activities to support environmental benefits, and ecosystem and habitat restoration. If selected, the River District will leverage Bucket 2E funding alongside significant state and local investment to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in the State of Colorado – the Shoshone Water Rights – to preserve their historical flow regime in perpetuity. 
    The River District was established in 1937 as a local governing entity to represent water users across 15 counties in Western Colorado – including the headwaters of the Yampa, White, Gunnison, and Colorado Rivers. The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the State of Colorado.
    Now, the River District is pursuing the Shoshone Permanency Project, which aims to preserve the historical Colorado River flow regime created by the 1902 Senior Shoshone Water Right and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Right (the “Shoshone Water Rights”). The River District has signed an agreement to purchase the Shoshone Water Rights from Xcel Energy, which currently holds the rights for its Shoshone hydropower plant. Today, the Shoshone Water Rights are decreed as non-consumptive water rights: the water is used to generate hydropower at the Shoshone Power Plant and is returned to the stream. The Shoshone Water Rights’ senior status “pulls” water to Glenwood Canyon, which ensures that water continues to flow and benefits the downstream environment. Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years.
    Data collection and analysis of Shoshone Water Rights’ historic use is not yet completed, and ongoing–a key step for understanding the historic flow regime on the Colorado River. The Shoshone Permanency Project seeks to change the water rights to include an alternate beneficial use for instream flow purposes, a legally recognized beneficial use in Colorado, to preserve the historical Shoshone flow regime. The proposed decree associated with these flows is still under technical review by the State of Colorado. The River District is actively discussing the proposal with other water users across the state. The Colorado Water Conservation Board and the State of Colorado Water Court will conduct a formal review in the coming months. Ongoing modeling will also help quantify the environmental benefits of the Shoshone Water Rights flows. One potential benefit is to the critical habitat of four fish in the Colorado River listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), known as the 15-Mile Reach, located near Palisade, Colorado.
    The State of Colorado and our water users are making their own significant investments to ensure that the historical Shoshone flows can continue in perpetuity. The Colorado River District has allocated $20 million, the State of Colorado has appropriated another $20 million for the acquisition, provided the State’s instream flow requirements are met, and a coalition of Western Slope water users and local governments have formally committed over $15 million. This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies.
    We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention. We encourage you to give the River District’s proposal your full and fair consideration consistent with all applicable rules and regulations. Thank you for your review, and please notify our offices of any funds awarded.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio, Scott Support Florida’s Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration Ahead of Hurricane Milton

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    Rubio, Scott Support Florida’s Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration Ahead of Hurricane Milton
    Oct 7, 2024 | Press Releases

    Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact Florida with devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. After just being hit by Hurricane Helene, it’s crucial for the State of Florida to have the support of the federal government.
    U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging his immediate approval of the State of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for 51 Florida counties. 
    “Currently, Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s Gulf coast. Milton’s anticipated strong winds, torrential rains, and devastating storm surge are likely to wreak havoc across much of Florida…. Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities. As such, we request that you promptly approve Governor DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.”
    The full text of the letter is below. 
    Dear Mr. President:
     We write in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration in preparation for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane and impact Florida in the coming days.
    Currently, Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s Gulf coast. Milton’s anticipated strong winds, torrential rains, and devastating storm surge are likely to wreak havoc across much of Florida. Although our state is familiar with the dangers posed by hurricanes, this major hurricane approaches toward Florida’s Gulf coast that recently endured severe impacts from major Hurricane Helene, rendering them particularly vulnerable to catastrophic effects from this approaching storm. 
    Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities. As such, we request that you promptly approve Governor DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.
    Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Representative Adriano Espaillat Marking One Year Since Attacks of October 7th

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

    NEW YORK, NY — Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement marking the one year since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th:

    “Today marks one year since the devastating terrorist attack by Hamas that killed nearly 1,200 people. On this solemn day, we embrace the families of the remaining hostages and join with the entire world in mourning and honoring the innocent lives lost on October 7th. Together, we must continue to fight to bring home the hostages who remain, including the four Americans, Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel and ensure their return and reunification with their loved ones. I remain steadfast in my efforts and collaboration with the Biden-Harris administration and as a co-chair of the Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus, that we do all it takes to bring humanitarian resources and stabilization to the region to ensure this never happens again.”

    # # #

    Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

    Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the Anniversary of October 7, 2023

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)

    Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on the Anniversary of October 7, 2023

    “Today, we remember the horrific violence of October 7th, where more than 1,200 Israelis were brutally killed, and hundreds were kidnapped and taken hostage by Hamas, including American citizens.

     I stand with families and communities mourning and feeling the pain of loss as well as those still under threat today throughout the region.  I stand with those whose loved ones are still being held hostage and the millions more in the region who continue to experience fear, anxiety, and uncertainty every day.

    The region today is neither more safe, secure, nor stable for anyone. Not only has the trauma of that day subsided, but continuing violent escalation only means greater insecurity for Israelis, Palestinians, and now the Lebanese and others in the region. Worse, there appears to be no off ramp to ever increasing violent escalation. 

    Long-term political stability and peace are the only way to achieve security for both Israelis and Palestinians and to prevent this conflict from further escalating into a broader war that would cost more innocent lives and put millions more under threat. 

    That is why I continue to support diplomatic efforts being spearheaded by the Biden Administration to not only reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal, but also work to find a durable solution along the Israel-Lebanon border that ends the escalation and finally allows people on both sides of that border to do what they so desperately want – to safely return home.

    I stand with the Biden-Harris administration in these efforts. Innocent civilians have suffered enough.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: DG Okonjo-Iweala on World Cotton Day: Efforts yielding results, maintain momentum

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Held on African soil for the first time, this year’s World Cotton Day showcased Benin’s  economic successes under the leadership of President Guillaume Athanase Talon, said Director-General Okonjo-Iweala. She praised Benin for its strong economic performance and the prudent management of its economy.

    The Director-General emphasized the importance of cotton to the economies of West and Central Africa, particularly Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire — collectively known as the Cotton4+ countries. As the largest cotton-producing region in Africa, these countries produce over 1 million tons of cotton annually, accounting for 50% of Africa’s total output and 4% of global production.

    In terms of cotton trade, West and Central Africa ranks as the third-largest exporter after the United States and Brazil, contributing significantly to global trade, which has grown from USD 8.2 billion in 2003 to USD 23 billion in 2022, she noted.

    Despite the high quality and environmentally friendly nature of African cotton, the sector faces significant challenges, from market distortions to climate change, DG Okonjo-Iweala said. She noted that 20 years ago, the Cotton4 countries made a call for action at the WTO against unfair trade practices in cotton. This led to cotton gaining a unique status within the WTO, with members regularly meeting to address both the trade and development aspects of the sector.

    Regarding cotton trade, the Director-General emphasized the importance of levelling the playing field by reducing subsidies, which currently amount to USD 8 billion, to allow developing countries greater market access and enable them to benefit more from trade. She noted that WTO members have worked hard and will continue advancing negotiations to achieve this goal.

    On the development front, she highlighted the significant progress made in supporting Cotton4 countries in enhancing their competitiveness and tapping into the vast potential of cotton markets, both in Africa and globally. “The African market for cotton alone is worth USD 12 billion. We are also exploring external opportunities, including the sports apparel value chain, which is expected to reach USD 250 billion by 2026,” she added.

    The Director-General highlighted that new WTO-led initiatives are helping African cotton unlock its full potential, with the milestone “Partenariat pour le Coton” initiative, launched in February 2024, serving as a key example.

    This initiative marks a significant step toward fostering public-private partnerships and empowering Cotton4+ countries to achieve sustainable transformation and advance up the value chain. The first phase of the initiative has already been completed, including a baseline study and thorough assessments of each country’s national priorities and challenges.

    The baseline study estimated that Cotton4+ countries need to attract USD 12 billion in investment over the next decade to unlock the full potential of the sector, which could create 500,000 direct jobs, especially for women and youth, DG Okonjo-Iweala said. 

    To facilitate this much-needed investment, the WTO has mobilized resources and called on partners to provide financial and technical support for African cotton. This includes the signing of a joint declaration with the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, the African Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the International Trade Center.

    The Director-General also commended the regional textile and clothing industrial hubs established by Cotton4 governments and financial partners, highlighting the Glo-Djigbe industrial park in Benin, which “plays a crucial role in connecting Benin to global cotton value chains.”

    Looking ahead, the Director-General stated that the partners of the Partenariat pour le Coton will prioritize assisting governments and financial institutions in developing concrete investment projects aligned with each country’s national priorities. She emphasized the need for increased investment in infrastructure, capacity building, product certification, and logistics to support the sustainable growth of the cotton sector.

    The Director-General urged all partners of the Partenariat pour le Coton to seize the opportunity presented by the World Cotton Day event to strengthen cooperation and coordination, with the goal of delivering tangible improvements in the lives of cotton producers and traders.

    WTO’s activities on World Cotton Day

    WTO senior officials will be actively involved throughout the two-day event, contributing to thematic panel discussions and the Business Forum, which will focus on strengthening public-private partnerships to build a sustainable cotton-textile value chain.

    The WTO website features a dedicated page for the event, including news, videos, and the programme: WTO | World Cotton Day 2024. Additional information on the history of World Cotton Day and previous celebrations is also available here: WTO | World Cotton Day: Celebrating the global importance of cotton.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa’s unity government is being tested – the toppling of a mayor in a key city exposes faultlines

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Susan Booysen, Visiting Professor and Professor Emeritus, University of the Witwatersrand

    South Africa’s long-governing party, the ANC, performed disastrously in the country’s May 2024 elections. Its electoral fortunes are now tied to regaining support in Gauteng, the most populous and economically important province, which it had governed with outright majorities since 1994. In 2024 the ANC’s Gauteng result of 34.8%, along with its 17% in KwaZulu-Natal, sealed the party’s loss of its national outright majority. We asked political scientist Susan Booysen for her perspective on the ANC’s battle for Tshwane, the administrative seat of the national government, where the party used a newly constituted coalition to topple the Democratic Alliance mayor, Cilliers Brink.

    What lies behind the Gauteng ANC’s toppling of the DA mayor of Tshwane?

    For the ANC (African National Congress) to regain majority electoral support, much will depend on the Gauteng province’s populous base. The three Gauteng metropolitan municipalities of Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Ekurhuleni are key in this project. Besides constituting South Africa’s financial hub and having huge budgets, these metropolitan councils (metros) symbolise the country’s cultural heartbeat, and are a gateway to the rest of the continent.

    The ANC’s political control of these bases has been lessening. It fears further lapses may make the losses irreversible. It lost outright control of the Gauteng metros in 2016: it slipped to 49% in Ekurhuleni, 46% in Johannesburg and 41% in Tshwane. The 2021 local elections confirmed both the ANC’s slide and rule by unstable coalition governments.

    Since the 2021 elections, the metros have had multiple coalition governments. The ANC has, through coalition, reclaimed control of the top council positions in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.

    What does the toppling of Brink say about internal ANC party dynamics?

    Following their national coalition agreement of June 2024, parties to the coalition government have been discussing cascading the agreement to the provincial and local levels. These talks have been inconclusive.

    The ouster of the mayor of Tshwane was not explicitly or publicly condoned by the ANC’s national leadership. Neither did they stop it. The Tshwane crisis exposes the ANC’s internal party dynamics.

    The ANC in the province and in the Tshwane council constituted an alternative alliance – between the party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ActionSA. ActionSA broke its previous alignment with the Democratic Alliance in favour of the ANC.

    Jointly the ANC, EFF and ActionSA hold 117 out of the 214 Tshwane council seats. They used this majority to pass a motion of no confidence against Brink and, in effect, his entire mayoral committee. A small band of one-seat parties reinforced Brink’s ejection.

    The Tshwane development highlighted one of the key faultlines in the government of national unity: the Gauteng ANC’s disdain for the unity government agreement. The national unity government comprises the ANC, DA, Inkatha Freedom Party, Patriotic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus and five other tiny parties. The agreement has the support of the majority in the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), its highest decision-making body between elective conferences.

    The NEC had originally been strongly divided on forming a coalition with the DA.

    After being elected Gauteng premier with the support of the DA, Panyaza Lesufi constituted the Gauteng executive with the Patriotic Alliance, Rise Mzansi and Inkatha Freedom Party. It excludes the DA.

    Lesufi had offered the DA executive posts that would have placed it in a minor and subjected position in the province. The ANC’s national leadership accepted this. The DA rejected it.

    What are the implications for ANC-DA cooperation in the national government and other municipalities?

    The DA is fighting to have Cilliers Brink reinstated as mayor of Tshwane. It argues that the ANC’s capturing of the position threatens the unity government.

    The DA appears to be angling for a fairer dispensation within the overall coalition formation, given its importance as the second largest party in the coalition government, rather than rejection of the GNU government. The DA needs the coalition as much as the ANC does.

    The coalition government’s statement of intent, and how it is reflected in the lower provincial and municipal levels, are the key issue at stake.

    The Tshwane crisis stands in the context of other local governments where new alliances are forming outside the formula of the national coalition government.

    The crisis is in all probability not threatening the national coalition. But it may result in the fleshing out of the generally vaguely defined and minimalist Statement of Intent (the coalition agreement). In recent weeks more clarity has already emerged regarding conflict resolution in the unity government. The Tshwane crisis is likely to show whether and how the national level agreement resonates provincially and locally.

    In fact, the lesson from the Tshwane coalition fiasco might be that there ought to be no expectations that the coalition government’s formula of approximate proportionality among its constituent parties will be reflected in the executives of the lower-level structures.

    The DA stressed at the time of Brink’s removal that it had been in discussions with ANC national secretary general Fikile Mbalula and ANC negotiator David Makhura – and progress had been made for the two parties to jointly “stabilise” the Gauteng metros (read “exercise power-sharing”). It may have entailed the DA supporting the ANC in Ekurhuleni, and the ANC the DA in Tshwane.

    But the proposal came to naught when the ANC proceeded to capture Tshwane, which it last governed in 2016.

    The effect of the Tshwane fallout is likely to be heightened instability in South Africa’s metro councils. Without ANC-DA cooperation, much of the coalitions detente that had become possible in the wake of the national coalition agreement may dissipate. Instead, alternating coalition governments, through motions of no confidence, may proliferate.

    The instability caused by such party political tit-for-tats and coalition musical chairs, both in the large metropolitan councils and the local municipalities, will contribute to citizens suffering poor delivery of services – although it is not the sole cause.

    What does the ANC’s failure to sing from the same hymn book mean for the party?

    The Tshwane crisis goes to the heart of the struggles unfolding in the ANC.

    The ANC of 2024 is inherently unstable as it fights for electoral survival.

    Its national executive committee and presidency act in ways that hint at them lacking the power to call the shots in relation to coalitions in some provinces and municipalities; and reining in its Gauteng premier and provincial executive committee.

    This, as the party is trying to position itself favourably, through leadership changes, ahead of its national general council meeting next year, and its elective conference of 2027, in the hope of reversing electoral declines in local, provincial and national elections.

    Besides KwaZulu-Natal’s centrality to this process, Gauteng holds the base of ANC succession given that it is political home to its deputy president, Paul Mashatile, and Lesufi.

    The search for a new mayor for Tshwane unleashed a candidacy contest within the ANC. ANC mayoralty candidates are proliferating. They are emerging from the ranks of the politically powerful, anointed by high-level ANC power holders, along with candidates in the local ANC party structures and in the council itself.

    The legacy of the 2016 violent struggles and mayhem in the city amid anger about succession are invoked to justify some proposals. These struggles seem oblivious to new coalition contexts, and the ANC’s loss of majority power.

    Unless the fractious and divided ANC finds a united and consistent voice on coalitions, it may lose out on the possibility of using coalitions to regain electoral support. Unless the ANC in Gauteng is using the metros to confirm its alternative to the national formula.

    – South Africa’s unity government is being tested – the toppling of a mayor in a key city exposes faultlines
    – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-unity-government-is-being-tested-the-toppling-of-a-mayor-in-a-key-city-exposes-faultlines-239986

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration’s Pre-Landfall Preparations for Hurricane  Milton

    Source: The White House

    Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact the Western coast of the Florida peninsula this week. As communities across the Southeast – including in Florida – continue their road to recovery and rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration is mobilizing additional resources and personnel to prepare for the impacts of this new major storm.

    The Federal government is preparing to support affected communities wherever and whenever needed. Preparedness efforts are underway in conjunction with state and local partners. Together we stand ready to respond to any potential impacts on communities.

    FEMA has sufficient funding to both support the response to Hurricane Milton and continue to support the response to Hurricane Helene– including funding to support first responders and provide immediate assistance to disaster survivors.

    Today, President Biden quickly approved the Governor of Florida’s request for an emergency declaration. Under an emergency declaration, FEMA provides direct Federal support to states for life-saving activities and other emergency protective measures, such as evacuation, sheltering, and search and rescue.

    President Biden was first briefed yesterday on Hurricane Milton’s potential impacts to the Florida Gulf Coast and the work FEMA is doing to preposition life-saving resources in advance of the storm. He is also receiving another briefing today from Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.

    The Administration has been in touch with officials from the State of Florida, as well as more than 15 local officials in cities and counties along the likely path of impact, to ensure needs are met in advance of the storm. FEMA has been coordinating closely with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s team ahead of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell’s visit to Tampa today. The Administration has also reached out to state officials in South Carolina and Georgia and will continue outreach efforts based on Hurricane Milton’s latest trajectory.

    Florida residents are urged to stay alert, listen to local officials, and make additional preparations as needed.

    Pre-landfall actions taken thus far include:

    Pre-Positioning Resources and Personnel

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is flying Hurricane Hunters into the current storm to gather data to models and help hone prediction of the storm’s track and timing.

    FEMA has pre-staged personnel and resources in Florida and the region, including six FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams, five FEMA Urban Search & Rescue teams, three U.S. Coast Guard Swift Water Rescue teams, four HealthCare System Assessment Teams, two U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) temporary power teams, USACE debris experts, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and wastewater experts, 300 ambulances and 30 High Water Vehicles with ladders from the Department of Defense.

    Additionally, FEMA has two incident staging bases with commodities including food and water. Right now, FEMA currently has 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water in the pipeline to deploy as needed used to address ongoing Helene and Milton response efforts with capacity to expand as needed.

    Currently, a total of nearly 900 staff are already supporting recovery efforts based out of the Joint Field Office in Tallahassee and operating across the designated counties for hurricanes Helene, Debby and Idalia. This includes over 440 supporting Hurricane Helene recovery, over 300 supporting Hurricane Debby recovery, and over 100 supporting Hurricane Idalia recovery.

    Expediting Debris Removal in Florida

    Debris remaining from the impacts of Hurricane Helene poses additional threats to lives and livelihoods if another storm occurs. FEMA is supporting the State of Florida to expedite the removal of debris from Hurricane Helene in the Tampa region in advance of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

    FEMA is providing all flexibility available for reimbursement for debris removal activities, to help the State take whatever action is required to speed debris removal before Milton’s landfall. To that end, FEMA is supporting Florida in surging additional resources to the Tampa area to get as much debris picked up as possible. State-run debris management sites are open 24 hours a day, and contracted trucks can deliver debris to those sites around the clock.   
    The Governor of Florida has additionally activated 4,000 State active-duty National Guard, many of whom will help with debris removal.

    Pre-Landfall Preparations Supplement Ongoing Helene Response

    The Administration continues to mobilize a whole-of-government response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Yesterday, President Biden ordered another 500 active-duty troops with advanced technological assets to move into Western North Carolina and assist with the response and recovery efforts. With a total of 1,500 troops now supplementing a robust on-the-ground effort – including more than 6,100 National Guards and more than 7,000 Federal personnel – the Administration is sparing no resource to support families as they begin their road to rebuilding.

    The Administration has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $210 million in Federal assistance – and there is more to come. Over the last several days, the Administration has contacted nearly 450 state, city, and county officials in impacted States to ensure they have the support and resources they need. To date, FEMA has shipped over 15.6 million meals, more than 13.9 million liters of water, more than 505,000 tarps to the region, and installed 157 generators at critical facilities such as hospitals and water treatment plants.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 40 Years Ago: STS-41G – A Flight of Many Firsts and Records

    Source: NASA

    The 13th flight of the space shuttle program and the sixth of Challenger, STS-41G holds many distinctions. As the first mission focused almost entirely on studying the Earth, it deployed a satellite, employed multiple instruments, cameras, and crew observations to accomplish those goals. The STS-41G crew set several firsts, most notably as the first seven-member space crew. Other milestones included the first astronaut to make a fourth shuttle flight, the first and only astronaut to fly on Challenger three times and on back-to-back missions on any orbiter, the first crew to include two women, the first American woman to make two spaceflights, the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk, and the first Canadian and the first Australian-born American to make spaceflights.
    Left: The STS-41G crew patch. Right: The STS-41G crew of Jon A. McBride, front row left, Sally K. Ride, Kathryn D. Sullivan, and David C. Leestma; Paul D. Scully-Power, back row left, Robert L. Crippen, and Marc Garneau of Canada.
    In November 1983, NASA named the five-person crew for STS-41G, formerly known as STS-17, then planned as a 10-day mission aboard Columbia in August 1984. When assigned to STS-41G, Commander Robert L. Crippen had already completed two missions, STS-1 and STS-7, and planned to command STS-41C in April 1984. On STS-41G, he made a record-setting fourth flight on a space shuttle, and as it turned out the first and only person to fly aboard Challenger three times, including back-to-back missions. Pilot Jon A. McBride, and mission specialists Kathryn D. Sullivan from the Class of 1978 and, David C. Leestma from the Class of 1980, made their first flights into space. Mission specialist Sally K. Ride made her second flight, and holds the distinction as the first American woman to return to space, having flown with Crippen on STS-7. The flight marked the first time that two women, Ride and Sullivan, flew in space at the same time. In addition, Sullivan holds the honor as the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk and made her second flight and holds the distinction as the first American woman to return to space, having flown with Crippen on STS-7. The flight marked the first time that two women, Ride and Sullivan, flew in space at the same time. In addition, Sullivan holds the honor as the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk, and Leestma as the first of the astronaut Class of 1980 to make a spaceflight.
    Columbia’s refurbishment following STS-9 ran behind schedule and could not meet the August launch date, so NASA switched STS-41G to the roomier and lighter weight Challenger. This enabled adding crew members to the flight. In February 1984, NASA and the Canadian government agreed to fly a Canadian on an upcoming mission in recognition for that country’s major contribution to the shuttle program, the Remote Manipulator System (RMS), or robotic arm. In March, Canada named Marc Garneau as the prime crewmember with Robert B. Thirsk as his backup. NASA first assigned Garneau to STS-51A, but with the switch to Challenger transferred him to the STS-41G crew. On June 1, NASA added Australian-born and naturalized U.S. citizen Paul D. Scully-Power, an oceanographer with the Naval Research Laboratory who had trained shuttle crews in recognizing ocean phenomena from space, to the mission rounding out the seven-person crew, the largest flown to that time. Scully-Power has the distinction as the first person to launch into space sporting a beard.
    Left: Space shuttle Challenger returns to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft following the STS-41C mission. Middle: The Earth Resources Budget Satellite during processing at KSC for STS-41G. Right: Technicians at KSC process the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B for the STS-41G mission.
    The STS 41G mission carried a suite of instruments to study the Earth. The Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, contained three instruments, including the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment-2 (SAGE-2), to measure solar and thermal radiation of the Earth to better understand global climate changes. NASA’s Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications sponsored a cargo bay-mounted payload (OSTA-3) consisting of four instruments. The Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B), managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and an updated version of SIR-A flown on STS-2, used synthetic aperture radar to support investigations in diverse disciplines such as archaeology, geology, cartography, oceanography, and vegetation studies. Making its first flight into space, the 900-pound Large Format Camera (LFC) took images of selected Earth targets on 9-by-18-inch film with 70-foot resolution. The Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS) experiment provided information about industrial pollutants in the atmosphere. The Feature Identification and Location Experiment (FILE) contained two television cameras to improve the efficiency of future remote sensing equipment. In an orbit inclined 57 degrees to the Equator, the instruments aboard Challenger could observe more than 75% of the Earth’s surface. 
    The Orbital Refueling System (ORS), managed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, while not directly an Earth observation payload, assessed the feasibility of on-orbit refueling of the Landsat-4 remote sensing satellite, then under consideration as a mission in 1987, as well as Department of Defense satellites not designed for on-orbit refueling. In the demonstration, the astronauts remotely controlled the transfer of hydrazine, a highly toxic fuel, between two tanks mounted in the payload bay. During a spacewalk, two crew members simulated connecting the refueling system to a satellite and later tested the connection with another remotely controlled fuel transfer. Rounding out the payload activities, the large format IMAX camera made its third trip into space, with footage used to produce the film “The Dream is Alive.”
    Four views of the rollout of space shuttle Challenger for STS-41G. Left: From inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Middle left: From Firing Room 2 of the Launch Control Center (LCC). Middle right: From the crawlerway, with the LCC and the VAB in the background. Right: From atop the VAB.
    Left: The STS-41G astronauts answer reporters’ questions at Launch Pad 39A during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. Right: The STS-41G crew leaves crew quarters and prepares to board the Astrovan for the ride to Launch Pad 39A for liftoff.
    Following the STS-41C mission, Challenger returned to KSC from Edwards Air Force Base in California on April 18. Workers in KSC’s Orbiter Processing Facility refurbished the orbiter and changed out its payloads. Rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) took place on Sept. 8 and after workers stacked Challenger with its External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters, they rolled it out of the VAB to Launch Pad 39A on Sept. 13. Just two days later, engineers completed the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, a final dress rehearsal before the actual countdown and launch, with the astronaut crew participating as on launch day. They returned to KSC on Oct. 2 to prepare for the launch three days later.
    Left: Liftoff of space shuttle Challenger on the STS-41G mission. Middle: Distant view of Challenger as it rises through the predawn skies. Right: The Earth Resources Budget Satellite just before the Remote Manipulator System released it.
    Space shuttle Challenger roared off Launch Pad 39A at 7:03 a.m. EDT, 15 minutes before sunrise, on Oct. 5, 1984, to begin the STS-41G mission. The launch took place just 30 days after the landing of the previous mission, STS-41D. That record-breaking turnaround time between shuttle flights did not last long, as the launch of Discovery on STS-51A just 26 days after Challenger’s landing set a new record on Nov. 8.
    Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, Challenger and its seven-member crew reached space and shortly thereafter settled into a 218-mile-high orbit, ideal for the deployment of the 5,087-pound ERBS. The crew noted that a 40-inch strip of Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (FRSI) had come loose from Challenger’s right-hand Orbiter Maneuvering System (OMS) pod, presumably lost during launch. Mission Control determined that this would not have any impact during reentry. Ride grappled the ERBS with the shuttle’s RMS but when she commanded the satellite to deploy its solar arrays, nothing happened. Mission Control surmised that the hinges on the arrays had frozen, and after Ride oriented the satellite into direct sunlight and shook it slightly on the end of the arm, the panels deployed. She released ERBS about two and a half hours late and McBride fired Challenger’s steering jets to pull away from the satellite. Its onboard thrusters boosted ERBS into its operational 380-mile-high orbit. With an expected two-year lifetime, it actually operated until October 14, 2005, returning data about how the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs and re-radiates the Sun’s energy, contributing significant information about global climate change.
    Left: The SIR-B panel opens in Challenger’s payload bay. Right: Jon A. McBride with the IMAX large format camera in the middeck. 
    Near the end of their first day in space, the astronauts opened the panels of the SIR-B antenna and activated it, also deploying the Ku-band antenna that Challenger used to communicate with the Tracking and Data Relay System (TDRS) satellite. The SIR-B required a working Ku-band antenna to downlink the large volume of data it collected, although it could store a limited amount on onboard tape recorders. But after about two minutes, the data stream to the ground stopped. One of the two motors that steered the Ku antenna failed and it could no longer point to the TDRS satellite. Mission Control devised a workaround to fix the Ku antenna in one position and steer the orbiter to point it to the TDRS satellite and downlink the stored data to the ground. Challenger carried sufficient fuel for all the maneuvering, but the extra time for the attitude changes resulted in achieving only about 40% of the planned data takes. The discovery of the 3,000-year-old lost city of Udar in the desert of Oman resulted from SIR-B data, one of many interesting findings from the mission.
    Left: The shuttle’s Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System or robotic arm closes the SIR-B panel. Middle: The patch for Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau’s mission. Right: Spiral eddies in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
    During the second mission day, the astronauts lowered Challenger’s orbit to an intermediate altitude of 151 miles. Flight rules required that the SIR-B antenna be stowed for such maneuvers but the latches to clamp the antenna closed failed to activate. Ride used the RMS to nudge the antenna panel closed. From the orbiter’s flight deck, Leestma successfully completed the first ORS remote-controlled hydrazine fuel transfer. Garneau began working on his ten CANEX investigations related to medical, atmospheric, climatic, materials and robotic sciences while Scully-Power initiated his oceanographic observations. Despite greater than expected global cloud cover, he successfully photographed spiral eddies in the world’s oceans, particularly notable in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
    Left: Mission Specialists Kathryn D. Sullivan, left, and Sally K. Ride on Challenger’s flight deck. Right: Payload Specialists Marc Garneau and Paul D. Scully-Power working on a Canadian experiment in Challenger’s middeck.
    The third day saw the crew lower Challenger’s orbit to 140 miles, the optimal altitude for SIR-B and the other Earth observing instruments. For the next few days, all the experiments continued recording their data, including Garneau’s CANEX and Scully-Power’s oceanography studies. Leestma completed several scheduled ORS fuel transfers prior to the spacewalk. Preparations for that activity began on flight day 6 with the crew lowering the cabin pressure inside Challenger from the normal sea level 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi) to 10.2 psi. The lower pressure prevented the buildup of nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstreams of the two spacewalkers, Leestma and Sullivan, that could result in the development of the bends. The two verified the readiness of their spacesuits.
    Left: David C. Leestma, left with red stripes on his suit, and Kathryn D. Sullivan during their spacewalk. Middle: Leestma, left, and Sullivan working on the Orbital Refueling System during the spacewalk. Right: Sullivan, left, and Leestma peer into Challenger’s flight deck during the spacewalk.
    On flight day 7, Leestma and Sullivan, assisted by McBride, donned their spacesuits and began their spacewalk. After gathering their tools, the two translated down to the rear of the cargo bay to the ORS station. With Sullivan documenting and assisting with the activity, Leestma installed the valve assembly into the simulated Landsat propulsion plumbing. After completing the ORS objectives, Leestma and Sullivan proceeded back toward the airlock, stopping first at the Ku antenna where Sullivan secured it in place. They returned inside after a spacewalk that lasted 3 hours and 29 minutes, and the crew brought Challenger’s cabin pressure back up to 14.7 psi.
    STS-41G crew Earth observation photographs. Left: Hurricane Josephine in the Atlantic Ocean. Middle: The Strait of Gibraltar. Right: Karachi, Pakistan, and the mouth of the Indus River.
    False color image of Montreal generated from SIR-B data.
    Left: Traditional inflight photo of the STS-41G crew on Challenger’s flight deck. Right: Robert L. Crippen with the orange glow generated outside Challenger during reentry.
    Left: Kathryn D. Sullivan photograph of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida during Challenger’s approach, minutes before touchdown. Middle: Space shuttle Challenger moments before touchdown at N KSC at the end of the STS-41G mission. Right: The crew of STS-41G descends from Challenger after completing a highly successful mission.
    During their final full day in space, Challenger’s crew tidied the cabin for reentry and completed the final SIR-B and other Earth observations. On Oct. 13, the astronauts closed the payload bay doors and fired the OMS engines over Australia to begin the descent back to Earth. Because of the mission’s 57-degree inclination, the reentry path took Challenger and its crew over the eastern United States, another Shuttle first. Crippen guided the orbiter to a smooth landing at KSC, completing a flight of 8 days, 5 hours, and 24 minutes, the longest mission of Challenger’s short career. The crew had traveled nearly 3.3 million miles and completed 133 orbits around the Earth.
    Left: Missing insulation from Challenger’s right hand Orbiter Maneuvering System pod as seen after landing. Middle: Missing tile from the underside of Challenger’s left wing. Right: Damage to tiles on Challenger’s left wing.
    As noted above, on the mission’s first day in space the crew described a missing strip of FRSI from the right-hand OMS pod. Engineers noted additional damage to Challenger’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) after the landing, including several tiles on the underside the vehicle’s left wing damaged and one tile missing entirely, presumably lost during reentry. Engineers determined that the water proofing used throughout the TPS that allowed debonding of the tiles as the culprit for the missing tile. To correct the problem, workers removed and replaced over 4,000 tiles, adding a new water proofing agent to preclude the recurrence of the problem on future missions.
    Read recollections of the STS-41G mission by Crippen, McBride, Sullivan, Ride, and Leestma in their oral histories with the JSC History Office. Enjoy the crew’s narration of a video about the STS-41G mission.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Joins Senate Republicans to Stand with Israel, Condemn Iran-Backed Hamas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    October 7, 2024
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, one year since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack killed dozens of Americans, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined all 48 of his Senate Republican colleagues to fully condemn Iran-backed Hamas for its actions, support the forever survival of Israel, and call for the safe release of American hostages.
    The Senate resolution was led by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), chair of the Republican Policy Committee. Click here to view the full Senate resolution.
    “On October 7th, the world witnessed a heinous terror attack as Hamas murdered innocent women, men and children,” Ricketts said. “We must remain vigilant and unwavering in our commitment to bringing Hamas terrorists to justice. To the people of Israel, we stand with you, we mourn with you, and we will continue to support you until every hostage is brought home and Hamas surrenders.”
    “This time last year, I woke up in the Middle East to the unbearable news that Israel was under attack by Iran-backed terrorists and Americans were being killed and taken hostage,” said Ernst, a combat veteran. “I immediately traveled into Israel to show that our nation’s friendship is unwavering, in good times and bad. Regardless of whether I have been in Jerusalem, Washington, or Iowa, I have worked around the clock to hold the White House accountable to its ‘ironclad’ commitment, bring our hostages home, and cut off the source of terrorism in Tehran. One year since that day, as Israel remains under attack on all fronts, Senate Republicans stand united with our greatest ally in the Middle East.”
    Background
    Ricketts has been a staunch supporter of Israel’s sovereignty, their right to defend themselves against Iran and its terrorist proxies, and Israel’s efforts to bring home the remaining hostages. 
    In the weeks following the October 7th attack, Rickettsintroduced legislation to enact a permanent ban on U.S. funding for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Since October 7th, numerous reports have revealed UNRWA staff was directly involved in Hamas’ attack on Israel. The Stop Support for Hamas Act would:
    Cut off contributions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which has been described as “effectively a branch of Hamas;”
    Freeze Economic Support Funds (ESF) to Gaza and the West Bank until Israel has verifiably dismantled the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza;
    Strengthen certification requirements under the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 to ensure that no ministry, agency or instrumentality of the Palestinian Authority (PA) employs members, agents or affiliates of Hamas;
    Ensure any U.S. assistance to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Gaza and the West Bank does not benefit Hamas or any other terrorist organization; and
    Strengthen Taylor Force Act provisions to prevent any U.S. funding that directly or indirectly benefits the PA until it ends its “pay for slay” program.
    Over the past year, Ricketts has also repeatedly criticizedthe Biden-Harris administration for their failure to stand unequivocally with America’s strongest ally. He was critical when Kamala Harris refused to fulfill her Vice Presidential duty to preside over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he directly confronted Secretary of State Antony Blinken for strengthening the hand of adversaries like Hamas and Russia by conditioning U.S. aid to allies like Israel and Ukraine. He’s repeatedly called out the United Nations for being an “antisemitic organization.” He’s also called for the United States to take action against the International Criminal Court (ICC) for emboldening terrorists and promoting antisemitism. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of the October 7th Terror Attacks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    Today marks one year since the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, and took some 250 hostages, including Americans, many of whom are still being held captive today. Yahya Sinwar and his Hamas accomplices are responsible for mass murder, the taking of hostages, and sexual violence. They are war criminals. Nobody should forgive or forget those atrocities, which began this war.
    Over the past year, I have met with many survivors of that attack and their relatives. It is difficult to comprehend the heartbreak they have experienced. Today, we should all remember those human stories and reflect on that human cost.
    We also cannot mark this date without considering what has happened in the year since the Hamas massacre.
    Israel clearly had a right to respond to the Hamas attack. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremist government has not simply waged war against Hamas. It has waged total war against the Palestinian people. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 96,000 wounded, sixty percent of whom are women, children, or elderly people. The Netanyahu government has destroyed much of the housing stock of Gaza, the civilian infrastructure, and the health care system. Every one of the 12 universities in Gaza have been bombed, and there are virtually no educational opportunities available for the many children there. Desperate families, with few belongings, have been displaced time and time again.
    Israel has blocked humanitarian aid, cutting off food, water, medical supplies. Severe restrictions remain in place. Humanitarian aid organizations describe the situation as a catastrophe, with many thousands of children facing malnutrition and starvation. These actions by the Netanyahu government have clearly violated U.S. and international law and made Israel less secure.
    Further, Netanyahu has consistently sabotaged efforts to obtain a ceasefire deal and secure the release of the hostages. Every time an agreement has appeared close, he has introduced new demands, sinking the deal and leaving the hostages and Palestinian civilians to continue their suffering.
    Since October 7th, this ongoing conflict and the horrific humanitarian crisis have been a daily torment. Today, as we remember those lost and continue to grapple with the horror of that day, we must re-dedicate ourselves to returning the hostages to their families, bringing about an immediate ceasefire, returning displaced people to their homes, and providing the massive humanitarian aid that the people of Gaza need.

    MIL OSI USA News –